Work that starts thirty minutes after class and lasts until 11:30 p.m. that night, midterms for three classes the next morning, and a social life that’s still a priority. This is all stress.
Stress, according to SLCC’s Health and Wellness Services’ bi-yearly survey, is one of the main reasons college students drop out. Students have too much on their plate, but they try to convince themselves that they can handle it before it’s too late.
“Prioritizing would be one of the big things [that help students cope with stress], balancing out the things that you have in your life and of course making sure you include time for yourself,” said Health and Wellness program manager Tatiana Burton.
Not only does stress impact the way students think, but if the stress becomes too overwhelming, it can cause related physical problems. Some common problems are ulcers, nervous breakdowns, trouble focusing, and a weakened immune system.
Ways to reduce stress
“Meditation is a great way to tone down from a stressful day,” said Burton. “One form of meditation that I recommend is guided imagery. It connects your mind and body and helps you go into an altered state where we are more relaxed.”
Not only is meditation a great way to relax, but according to Martha Beck’s article about “Five ways to bring yourself back from burnout,” eating healthier foods, getting plenty of sleep and exercising for fun can all help reduce your stress and avoid burn out.
An honest examination of an individual’s own stress factors can also help. If a person or habit isn’t truly necessary and helpful, then it might be best to look for ways to remove those elements from the individual’s life.
“One thing you really need to keep in mind, is do you really need these things and people in your life,” Burton said.
Health and Wellness services
At Salt Lake Community College, the Health and Wellness program is dedicated to “help students succeed.” SLCC has made it possible to provide help for students on their journey to success. Health and Wellness Services provides multiple ways to meet your needs.
“Each Semester we provide free massage therapy and free professional counseling services. This helps in case you need someone to talk to or a way to ease the tension,” said Burton. “These are amazing ways to help relieve stress.”
For more information about Health and Wellness Services and what they have to offer for SLCC students, visit their website or the Health and Wellness department at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus Student Center. The website has information about their medical clinic, counseling services, massage therapy and health promotion.
