From finals to full-time jobs, stress for students is inevitable.
There are ways to manage that stress, however. Jessica Pettersson, the health promotion manager at Salt Lake Community College, says that stress management is important because “stress is a normal part of everyday life.”
“It is important to get your work done this semester, but equally important to take time for yourself and practice self-care,” she says.
Counseling
There are a variety of ways to practice self-care, and SLCC has many resources to help students do so.
“Our mental health counselors and psychiatric nurse practitioner are available to talk with students about anything,” Petterson says.
A single session costs $15, and appointments can be set up through the SLCC website or by calling 801-957-4268.
Gardening
Connecting with the Earth is another way that can help with stress.
According to a post from Health.com author Anne Harding, gardening may contribute to better mental health, saying, “The effortless attention of gardening may even help improve depression symptoms.”
SLCC has opportunities for students looking into gardening, as there are garden plots available to rent at the Taylorsville, South City, and Jordan campuses. Students can rent a plot as an individual, or, as a group.
Massages
Massages are also a great way to relieve stress. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.”
SLCC offers massages to students through its massage therapy program.
“Our licensed massage therapists help students improve their physical well-being,” Pettersson says. “And [massages] lower stress for a more successful semester.”
A one-hour massage for students costs $30.
Exercise
Physical activity has also been proven to relieve stress. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “Exercise and other physical activity produce endorphins—chemicals in the brain that act as natural pain killers—and also improve the ability to sleep, which in turn, reduces stress.”
Taylorsville Redwood Campus houses the Lifetime Activities Center, which is free for students, faculty and staff. The LAC also hosts fitness classes and has extramural sports that anyone can participate in.
Additionally, the Bruin Fitness Center is open to those who work or attend school at South City Campus.
Advice from other students
Two students from Weber State University shared their own stress relief tips. Brittanie Smith says she manages her stress by finding things that might calm her down.
“If homework is overwhelming me, I’ll give myself a few minutes to go on a walk and just get it off my mind for a little bit,” she says. “Too much stress makes me irritable, and I feel like I can’t function when I’m stressed out.”
Amanda Smith, no relation to Brittanie Smith, shares that she manages her stress by stepping away from the stressors.
“I [also] spend time with friends, and talk about things,” she says.
Managing stress can be accomplished in a wide variety of ways. While only a few were mentioned, there are many more.
Visit the SLCC student portal to learn more about the various resources available to students.
