The Forum

One effective way to relieve stress due to an overwhelming schedule at work and for the holidays, and I can’t emphasize this enough, is time management. Let’s say you have a class that meets on Tuesday and Thursday, and you have to read 30 pages over the weekend to prepare for a quiz on Tuesday. You can set aside 30 minutes per day on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday to study. You could set a goal of ten pages per day, with Monday being a review day. I encourage students to speak the content they need to know out loud as if they are teaching it to someone else. This is a great way to help remember information. By dividing up the total time you need into smaller increments that are less intimidating, students often feel less stressed than if they study for two straight hours the night before a quiz after a long shift at work. The key is to set the schedule and stick to it. The review session is also crucial. You’d be amazed at what a little discipline can achieve! 

-Mike Metroulas, Assistant Professor of Political Science and History

Yes! This time of year can be especially overwhelming! Think about how you already handle stress and anxiety in your day-to-day life. I am confident many of you have adaptive coping strategies you go to when times are tough, such as mindful walking, meditation, deep breathing or reaching out to your social support network. These are skills that keep us in the present and help with functioning. Use what you already have but may forget to implement when responsibilities pile up or that you’ve perhaps never thought of applying to your schoolwork. Be creative, think outside of the box and do what works for you - a mindful walk may work well for a friend but for you a dance break may be just what you need to clear your mind. Also, consider professors part of your social support! Use our office hours, come to us with questions, clarify expectations for final assignments. We want you to succeed! And we know that all of us are doing our best to keep up with the demands of work, school, family, and the holidays. Perhaps we’ll cross paths as we are both taking a mindful walk on campus or dancing to our favorite song. 

-Rimiko Thomas, Assistant Professor of Psychology