The fall semester is finally coming to an end; however, that also means the build up of unwanted stress. Final exams are stressful enough and with the chilly weather and the holiday season starting up, it is rough for many. Luckily, there are many ways to prevent and help with stress.
What is stress?
An Instructor of Health Sciences at Ball State University, Kimberli Stassen, defines stress as the human body's response to an event or situation. There are good and bad types of stress. The difference between the two is that good stress is often resolved in a more positive light and helps people work harder. Bad stress is held onto longer and is a more negative experience.
Unresolved stress can lead to illness as it weakens the immune system and if left unrelieved, can lead to more severe symptoms.
"This is a very stressful time." Stassen said. "This is where you are going to see students coming down with colds, flues and they're not eating right, they're not sleeping well, they're pulling all nighters - some of which they could have prevented by starting [studying] earlier."
Prevention and relief.
According to Stassen, the best way to prevent stress is to prepare ahead of schedule. However, there are many other things one must consider if stress is an issue:
- Rest. Getting enough sleep is key.
- Eating healthy. Trying to stick to a well balanced diet is important for a healthy immune system.
- Exercise. Keeping your body physically fit helps the body from becoming easily run down.
- Time management. Planning out your time prepares students for what’s ahead.
- Study schedules. Structured study time is beneficial and gives students specific focused study hours.
- Breaking down large tasks into smaller ones. This helps the student feel more productive when completing a large project.
Who can help?
There are two main places on Ball State University’s campus that can help out when students need guidance with stress. The Learning center offers programs such as group study sessions, open computer labs and tutors to help teach study skills and time management.
There is also the Counseling Center that offers group and one on one sessions to help students work through their stress and provide them with relaxation techniques.
Study Strategies and Writing Coordinator of the Learning Center, Jacqueline Harris, said, "I think if students can take time to distinguish where their stress is coming from - is it academic, is it family, is it from procrastinating - and then to work on it."
The Learning Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Some of their programs offer drop in appointments, but to meet with a tutor it is best to call in advance and schedule a time. The Counseling Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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End of the Semester Stress Building Up
Muncie, Ind. - As the end of the semester approaches, students are faced with finishing up last minute projects, preparing for final exams, adjusting to the weather and preparing for the holidays. The combination of these factors is a common cause of stress for many college students.
According to Kimberli Stassen, Instructor of Health Sciences at Ball State University, stress is the human body's response to an event or situation. Not all stress is bad, however. There is good stress that pushes people in positive ways. Stassen pointed out that the difference between the two types of stress is that people tend to resolve good stress easier and faster and that they hang onto things that are negative and considered bad stress longer.
Stassen has noticed that the end of the fall semester seems to be more stressful for students than in the spring semester. The accumulation of school, the weather, their outside lives and other factors all contribute to stress.
"This is a very stressful time." Stassen said. "This is where you are going to see students coming down with colds, flues and they're not eating right, they're not sleeping well, they're pulling all nighters - some of which they could have prevented by starting [studying] earlier."
Students are encouraged to do several things to avoid becoming overly stressed. Things such as preparing for assignments and finals ahead of time, learning to take a break when work becomes too intense and taking part in healthy habits can all reduce a person's level of stress if done correctly.
Of course, there are many different places stress can start. Study Strategies and Writing Coordinator of the Learning Center, Jacqueline Harris, said, "I think if students can take time to distinguish where their stress is coming from - is it academic, is it family, is it from procrastinating - and then to work on it."
If stress continues and students are having trouble finding a good balance between good and bad stress, Ball State University offers many programs to help. Two places students can go is the Learning Center or the Counseling Center.
The Learning Center allows students to either study on their own, work with a group, use their computer lab or meet with a tutor. When meeting with a tutor, the Learning Center uses a two-pronged approach by teaching skills in stress management and helping students prepare in advance.
When teaching the first prong, stress management, they provide tips on breathing exercises, healthy practices and encourage visits to the counseling center if stress continues. The other prong, preparing in advance, Harris describes as the center's "forte." They offer time management tips, help with study schedules, break down large tasks into smaller steps and more.
"I think often times one of the biggest things that helps is to take it little steps at a time and not to be overwhelmed by the whole picture," said Harris when referring to her favorite technique of breaking down large tasks into smaller ones.
The Learning Center sees about 4,000 to 5,000 students a year. Harris said that some areas become busier during this time of the semester, such as writing and study strategies.
Dani Richards, a junior nursing student at Ball State University, began going to the Learning Center once a week starting at the beginning of this school year. Richards studies in a group, along with a tutor, to help her stay focused. It gives her structured study time and she has definitely seen improvement in her grades. She plans to continue her visits next semester.
Another place to look for stress relief is the Counseling Center on campus. They offer programs such as COPE, which provides support for students who are feeling overwhelmed and stressed for any reason. Coping skills and other techniques are taught to help students manage their stress. They offer group and one on one counseling sessions.
Catherine Ingram, a junior double majoring in art and elementary education, takes 18 credit hours every semester and doesn’t have much free time. She swims for the Ball State University swimming team and is involved in two other extracurricular activities. She attended one on one sessions at the Counseling Center for a little over a year her freshman year.
“[The Counseling Center] made me realize what caused my stress and how to cope with that and how to change behaviors that were reactions to stress,” Ingram said.
She thinks that finals time is absolutely the most stressful for her.
Harris suggests that students think about their overall well-being and to figure out where their stress is coming from. If it is academic related then they should visit the Learning Center. If it deals with relationships or more, they should visit the Counseling Center.
The Learning Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. Some of their programs offer drop in appointments, but to meet with a tutor, it is best to call in advance and schedule a time. The Counseling Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Want to find out more? Check out http://stressaroundfinals.blogspot.com/.
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