Because this campus is filled with “over-involved Gusties”, the mid-semester demand in classes and extra-curriculars can be really bad for stress levels. In order to keep your stress in check and promote healthy habits, here are 5 self-care tips to help you with your mid-semester stress!
1. Get a massage.
This is one of my personal favorite ways to relax during a stressful week. Massages are good at relieving stress for a variety of reasons. First, massages provide you with human contact; science shows that when we are (consensually) touched, our bodies release the oxytocin hormone, making us feel happy, calm, and safe. Second, working the muscles offers a release of physical tension that often contributes to our stress levels. Third, studies show that repetitive motions (like those in massage) relieve anxiety.
Don’t want to spend to spend the big bucks getting a massage at a salon? Gustavus Stress Busters have you covered. This student-led organization offers free massages twice a month — check out their event calendar to start planning ahead for ways to de-stress during finals!
2. Go to the chapel and listen to a choir rehearsal.
On Monday through Thursday, Dr. Brandon Dean leads choir rehearsals in Christ Chapel every day. Between the beautiful stained glass at sunset and the sounds of reverberating voices, sitting in a rehearsal might be just what you need. According to the American Music Therapy Association, “music is a form of sensory stimulation that provokes responses due to the familiarity, predictability and feelings of security associated with it” and while listening to a choir isn’t specifically music therapy, it is likely to have many of the same effects. Some of these include a reduction in muscle tension, a decrease in feelings of anxiety, and feelings of emotional release.
If you want to check out a rehearsal and feel the therapeutic effects of music, you can hear the Lucia Singers on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30, or the Choir of Christ Chapel on Mondays through Thursdays from 4:30 to 5:30.
3. Take advantage of professor office hours and the CARE center.
Whether you are feeling confused about a concept, need guidance on an assignment, or think your relationship with your professor needs improvement, office hours are a great resource. Professors love when students come to their office hours, and it’s a great way for you to receive guidance, gain confidence and, in return, relieve stress. If you can’t remember when your professor’s office hours our, try checking the front page of your class syllabus, send them an email, or ask them after class!
In addition to office hours for a specific class, you can also go to the Center for Academic Resources and Enhancement (CARE) for more generalized academic support. Their office, located in the basement of Anderson Hall, offers everything from academic advising and four year planning to tips for battling test anxiety and information about effective study methods. To learn more about CARE, check out their Gustavus webpage or stop in their office between 8:00 am and 4:45 pm, Monday through Friday.
4. Go window shopping.
Or regular shopping. But, if you can’t afford to splurge on clothes while on a college budget, don’t let that stop you from enjoying the shopping experience altogether — so grab a friend, go into town, and try on clothes at the local boutiques! Without the pressure of purchasing, you can give yourself permission to try on the most expensive, fancy, or hideous things in the store — just for the fun of it. Get crazy with colors, model for yours friends (or for yourself in the mirror), and talk to the shop owner about her favorite fashion trends and pieces. Plus, with the holidays coming up, you can always take pictures of the things you like and send them to your mom for gift suggestions. I mean, you might as well try, right?
Head down main street to find all of the must-see local boutiques. Or, if you’d rather shop virtually, check out their websites:
Generations Boutique: http://www.generationsboutiquemn.com/
The Refinery: https://www.therefinerymn.com/
Sticks and Stones: https://www.facebook.com/sticksandstonesmankato/
5. Go for a sensory walk through the arb.
In the midst of our busy, stressful lives, we often forget to slow down and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. I challenge you to take half an hour to slow life down by going for a walk through the arb. Whether you’re by yourself or with a friend, or whether you’re listening to music or enjoying the silence, the physical activity of walking combined with the beautiful fall colors and fresh air will leave you feeling rejuvenated. Also, to take that challenge even further, try turning your walk into an experience for all of your senses; listen to the gravel crunching under your shoes, reach down and touch the leaves, inhale the scents of the earth, notice the shape of the surrounding tree branches. By focusing intently on each of the senses, you engage in mindful meditation, a method of refocusing your energy that allows for relaxation and anxiety reduction.
To make the most of your sensory walk, embrace your inner child and explore the world through fresh eyes. To get inspired, check out this video of kids taking a sensory walk and engaging in sensory play at their local library!
HCXO!