Rachel Serrell
Staff Writer
As the semester begins to become more difficult and time consuming, it is important for University of Wyoming Students to know their resources when it comes to handling stress.
There are a variety of resources on campus including The Wellness Center, Big Sky Mindfulness, athletic opportunities, and other events.
The Wellness Center offers opportunities and workshops to help deal with stress. Students can schedule an appointment anytime during the week to use the massage chairs, which is free to students with their WyoOne ID card. Another opportunity is Drop-in Mediation for a guided meditation practice. Sessions are offered every Thurs. in the Wellness Center’s Zen Den from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and Fri. in the UW Art Museum from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
Animal play dates are also scheduled at UW. There are Puppy Play Dates for students to relax and spend time with certified therapy dogs and Kitty Cuddle Times with adoptable kittens from the Laramie Animal Welfare Society.
“Studies suggest that petting an animal can help people relax, feel more optimistic, and less preoccupied with everyday stress,” according to the UW Wellness Center’s website.
Big Sky Mindfulness Stress Reduction is offered to UW students, faculty and staff. This is 4 class workshop that teaches skills in mindfulness and meditation offered every Fri. in Nov. (1, 8, 15, and 22) from 9 to 10:20 a.m. The purpose is to help decrease stress and increase life satisfaction for those who attend it.
The Department of Theatre and Dance also has dance science wellness challenges that are open to everyone, despite being geared towards theatre and dance students specifically. Some of these challenges focus on handling stress and taking care of yourself.
“We have a set of dance science wellness challenges every week. We can access them by looking at our cork board in the Buchanan Center or at the Instagram page,” said Madison Drab, a junior in the Department of Theatre and Dance.
There are some other tips to managing stress suggested by Campus Mind Works, a resource from the University of Michigan (UM). Practicing time management skills and avoiding procrastination can help reduce stress by staying organized and on top of your schedule, according to UM’s website. It can also be important to exercise regularly and get the proper amount of sleep. The resource reminds students to regularly participate in activities they enjoy, in order to have some time dedicated to themselves.
While school this time of year may be stressful, there are opportunities provided by the Wellness Center that can help alleviate the stress. Taking advantage of these opportunities, in combination with following some of the tips suggested by Campus Mind Works, a student’s stress levels can decrease.
