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Stress Management by Calasandra Spray

Thanksgiving Break was a nice reprieve from the pressures of keeping up with schoolwork. However, now that we're back, finals are approaching. Unfortunately, finals tend to carry a lot of stress for students. Stress is normal, but too much stress can wreak havoc on everyday functioning. In order to improve everyday life and not be overwhelmed as the semester draws to a close, it is important to learn ways to manage our stress.

Check out the flyer posted around the library that provides ways to improve your stress management. Get proper sleep, learn to assert boundaries and say no, take breaks, and talk about it. If you feel like your stress is getting to be a greater problem than you can handle on your own, or talking it out with loved ones, remember the Loras College Counseling Center is available for you. 

Also listed on the flyer are some apps that can be useful for managing stress: Omvana, WhiteNoise, Insight Timer, and MyLife Meditation. Another way to utilize technology to help manage stress is to search for yoga or guided meditation videos on YouTube.

If you're interested in learning more about stress, its causes, and how to manage it, the Loras Library has excellent books that elaborate upon the topic. Stress Busting by Michael Papworth introduces readers to why we have stress, and how to manage it. Stress Management: A Comprehensive Handbook of Techniques and Strategies by Jonathan C Smith is a clinical analysis of stress and ways to combat it including relaxation techniques, positive thinking, and time management. Stress: From Burnout to Balance by Vinay V Joshi takes a physiological look at the effects stress has on the body and ways to cope with it.

Finishing the semester off on a good note will mean managing stress levels so remember the three R’s. Recognize your own signs of stress. Develop healthy Routines. Learn and practice Relaxation.