It’s mid-semester, graduation and finals are fast approaching, and today we elect our nation’s president for the next four years. It’s a stressful time.
Students across campus have a variety of ways they handle stress, and since Wednesday is National Stress Awareness Day, there’s no better time to share a wealth of mind-calming strategies.
How stressed are you, Huskies, and what do you do to conquer it?
Clara Mantoanelli, a first-year art education major, is happy to experience lower stress levels with midterms just passed.
Q: “As we enter the second half of the semester, what would you rate your stress level from 1-10?”
A: “I’d say at a five right now. Last week it would have been at a seven, 100%, because of midterms ramping down and stuff like that. But I’d say I’m at like a steady four or five.”
But first-year law student Alessandra Alvizo’s stress levels are already sky-rocketing in preparation for the next dreaded exams.
Q: “As we enter the second half of the semester, what would you rate your stress level from 1-10?”
A: “I would say right now I’m, like, at a seven. Just because finals are coming up and everything. So I have to start kind of crunching more and studying a lot more, so yeah.”
Q: “What is your favorite way to manage stress?”
A: “I think it’s trying to set some time, like, every week for, like my family. Kind of like, just unwind with myself to, like, lay back, watch some movies or something. Relax a little.”
Perla Lopez, a first-year sociology major, needs to move to banish stressful, mental storm clouds.
Q: “What is your favorite way to manage stress?”
A: “Well, just now I was about to go on a run, so doing anything physical, even just boring things like cleaning definitely gets my mind off, I guess more, more difficult things to think about.”
Nathaniel Guerra, a first-year music performance graduate student, recommends being around other people to feel less alone with your stress.
Q: “What would you suggest to other NIU students (about managing stress?)”
A: “Have a small group of friends or some people that you trust and try to hang out with people. If working alone is stressing you out, try to hang out with people, work with people. Study groups, that helps, especially when you’re stressed and don’t understand something.”
