Moderate amounts of stress
can help boost performance
ALS and counseling staff
offer help to stressed-out
students, though they say
that some stress is healthy
By Chelsea Duncan
News Reporter
Stress is building up for many stu
dents as the end of the term draws near,
and that may or may not be a good
thing depending on the amount of
stress students feel.
Senior Staff Psychologist Ron
Miyaguchi at the University Counseling
and resting Center said students should
maintain an optimum level of stress
that is balanced between not enough
and too much.
"When people are underactivated,
they underperform," he said. "If you're
not motivated, you procrastinate."
On the other hand, Miyaguchi said
that if students are too stressed out,
their performance can suffer.
"If you're overactivated, you scatter,
you panic," he said.
Academic Learning Services In
structor Amy Nuetzman agreed that
a balanced level of stress can help
students be more successful with ex
ams and studying.
"It tends to put us more in prime
form," she said. 'Too much really low
ers scores; a little bit can help."
She said that if students become too
stressed during exams, they may panic
and freeze up. Some students may get
sweaty palms and become even more
stressed as they see classmates finishing
up before they do.
She suggests preparation strategies to
prevent this from happening, such as
finding fun ways to study with ffiends
or breaking up studying over a few days
instead of cramming.
"It's better for learning and it
tends to be better for lowering that
stress," she said.
She said students need to do as lit
tle cramming the night before an
exam as possible.
They're invested in the test by study
ing well ahead," she said. 'They tend to
have less of that last minute anxiety."
She said that usually students who
use ALS as a resource plan their studies
throughout the term, but appoint
ments with faculty can be made for
those who wait until the last minute
and are feeling the pressure.
"We can certainly brainstorm some
things for that," she said.
Students can also use the service's
math and writing labs or sign up for fu
ture study skills classes.
A committee that focuses on creating
"Stress Free Days" for students during
finals week has also formed on campus.
Although it won't be in full swing until
winter term, some resources are avail
able now.
The Counseling and Testing Cen
ter offers a resource center equipped
with a massage chair, computers and
relaxation tapes for students who
need to unwind.
"Any student can come in and use
it,'' said Kimi Mojica, director of diversi
ty education and support at the Office
of Student Life.
Mojica, who is on the "Stress Free
Days" committee, said one purpose
of the committee is to educate stu
dents on ways to deal with stress at
the end of the term.
"No one ever teaches you how not
to stress," she said. "We want to ac
knowledge that students lead very
hard, stressful lives."
Senior Tim Taber said he usually
feels stressed out by the end of the term
while trying to balance finals with his
two young children, his business and
his other schooling.
"I think what mostly stresses me out
is trying to juggle a lot of things," he
said. "Getting it organized in some
manageable context is vital."
Taber said he tries to prioritize his
responsibilities and tries to remem
ber to put things in perspective. But
once in while, he said he does be
come over-stressed and "the brain
juices aren't flowing."
Sophomore Karla Vonderheit said
she tries to manage stress by exercising
and getting enough sleep, but at the
end of the term, those methods take a
back seat to other responsibilities. She
said she doesn't always have time to
think about ways to reduce stress.
"It's almost like I'm so busy between
school and work, 1 don't have time to
deal with it," she said.
Miyaguchi said it is important to
remember that stress isn't some
thing to deal with only after it has
become overbearing.
"Ideally, stress management is part of
your lifestyle," he said.
Contact the higher education/
student life/student affairs reporter
atchelseaduncan@dailyemerald.com.
1. Learn to use your stress. Stress
can often be a motivator or an
energizer if it is focused correctly.
2. Listen to your “Stress-o
Meter.” Recognize how your body
reacts to stress (physically,
emotionally and cognitively), and try
to identify your stressors.
3. Practice assertiveness with
others. Learn to head off stressors
before they begin by learning to say
"no" to burdensome requests.
4. Practice seif-assertiveness.
Procrastination is one way to deal
with stress on a short-term basis
but this often leads to more stress
in the long run. Don’t talk yourself
into putting off what needs to be
done now.
5. Manage stress daily. A healthy
diet, adequate sleep and exercise,
and developing social supports help
defend against stress overload.
6. Manage your vices.
Overindulgence in smoking,
drinking, consuming caffeine,
staying up late, etc., can lower your
ability to fight stress effectively.
7. Identify your control. Learn to
focus your energy where it will do the
most good and let go of things you
can’t influence.
8. Take a reality check. When
someone is under stress it is very
easy to lose perspective on the
situation. Sometimes it helps to
check things out with others who
aren’t involved in the situation.
9. Learn and practice relaxation
tips. Find a technique or skill and
practice it often. There are a wide
variety of techniques, such as
diaphragmatic breathing, guided
imagery and progressive muscle
relaxation.
SOURCE:
University Counseling and Testing Center
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