UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With final exams and graduation looming, the end of the semester can be an especially stressful time for Penn State students. The month of April is recognized as Stress Awareness Month and the University has a variety of resources to help students destress during this busy time.
When it comes to studying for and taking final exams, stress levels can reach all-time highs for many students. The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a list of tips for getting through final exams, which includes creating a study schedule and getting enough sleep. The Penn State University Libraries also has a library guide available on Personal Health and Mental Wellness that includes a variety of wellness-related resources.
Health Promotion and Wellness (HPW), a unit of Student Affairs, offers an array of resources for students looking to reduce their stress levels. From workshops to meetings with trained peer health educators, students have numerous options for tips to destress.
Students may complete the “Manage Stress Workbook,” a document that was designed to help develop stress management techniques. Suggested activities for destressing include walking to the Arboretum, calling a friend, and more. Download the workbook here.
In addition, students may visit the Mindful Making website to discover self-care toolkits to improve wellbeing. Activities include tools for mindful writing, movement, eating, art and more.
Join HPW staff at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays in 124 Findlay Commons for “Wellbeing Wednesdays.” These interactive activities are facilitated by HealthWorks Peer Educators and run through April 27. Learn and practice strategies that will enhance your wellbeing, such as stress relief through art, music and mindfulness.
HPW hosts in-person yoga and meditation classes, led by instructor Sima Farage in 107 Pasquerilla from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through April 27. Yoga supplies are provided. You can also watch previously recorded classes at your convenience.
For those looking to do more physical activities to destress, HPW partnered with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), a unit of Student Affairs, to host an outdoor adventure. At 4 p.m. on April 18, the organizations will host “Less Media Monday,” a nature walk participants take without their cellphones to improve overall wellbeing.
Students may also stop by one of the five on-campus fitness centers to shake out any lingering stress. Campus Recreation, a unit of Student Affairs, offers a variety of fitness classes daily. View the schedule and sign up for a class by entering your Penn State credentials.
Those looking for a more stationary way to destress may stop by the Relaxation Room in the Wellness Suite, 020 Intramural Building. The Relaxation Room is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The room features two biofeedback software programs on a desktop computer for students to practice breathing exercises designed to reduce heart rate and stress level. There is also a variety of relaxation, stress reduction, mindfulness, and brain massage audio tracks available. There are coloring books, a zen sand garden, puzzles, light therapy boxes, and a comfortable space to help students take a break, relax, or study.
Visit HPW’s “Stress Management” webpage for more resources.
CAPS also offers services to help students manage their stress. One service, WellTrack, is a virtual resource that even includes a course specifically on anxiety and stress. It features a wellness assessment that can be taken one time, or on an as-needed basis, to help users understand the activities associated with their feelings, and to identify patterns in their daily activities. WellTrack includes self-paced programs with content focused on resilience, anxiety and stress, depression, and public speaking. The service also has a mobile app that is free to download.
Students may also utilize CAPS’ virtual library that includes informative videos about various mental health topics. Created for Penn State students by CAPS clinicians, some videos serve to inform, validate, and support, while others offer the opportunity for a basic introduction to strategies for coping with specific concerns. View the full library here.
Visit CAPS’ “Wellness Services” webpage for a full list of resources.
Health Promotion and Wellness, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Campus Recreation are all units of Penn State Student Affairs.