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Faculty > Color me stress-free: Wellness tips for surviving end-of-semester stress
Color me stress-free: Wellness tips for surviving end-of-semester stress
November 6, 2017
[caption id="attachment_7753" align="alignright" width="220"]
Click to download Georgia Southern University's custom adult coloring page.[/caption]
As the fall semester winds down and the holiday season gears up, it’s no surprise to find ourselves a little more stressed than usual.
In an effort to alleviate some of that year-end stress, be it from finals, grade processing, consolidation or wrapping up 2017 projects, University Wellness Program Director Michele Martin has some ideas for getting your mind healthy and tips on building a stress relief “toolbox” for those especially tough days.
Martin says there are many ways to reduce and relieve stress, and one of the most popular and effective ways is by participating in physical activity. Some examples include jogging, kickboxing, dancing or yoga. Taking regular walks and getting a little bit of of sunshine each day, can also provide stress relief as well as many other health benefits.
The University System of Georgia (USG) well-being program also encourages faculty and staff to make healthy lifestyle choices, and promotes physical activity with programs like HealthTrails. HealthTrails encourages faculty and staff to be active and provides resources for making healthier food choices through its online portal.
The interactive website and smartphone application allows participants to sync up their fitness-tracking devices to log physical activity, water intake and other everyday healthy habits in a team setting. This kind of physical activity, paired with human interaction, is something Martin says can prove very valuable in enhancing the overall moods and morale of an entire office.
“Even a 10-minute walk will do wonders for your attitude,” she said. “Grab a co-worker or a friend, and walk and talk a couple of times a day. Sometimes it just helps to talk things out and work through stress with someone else, and HealthTrails is a great way to start and keep you motivated.”
Additionally, the USG offers a stress management component through its USG Well-Being Initiative. The new Employee Assistance Program offers free counseling services for system employees to help with work-life balance, employee and family well-being, and provides resources to support leaders and the organization.
While physical activity and talking with a friend may not work for everyone, Martin has other ideas about what to put into your “toolbox”.
“I know others who keep a small coloring book or a couple coloring pages on hand to turn to in times of stress. Keeping these on hand along with some colored pencils could also come in handy when stressed students want to talk,” said Martin. “Other great go-to’s when dealing with stress are protein-packed snacks, light-hearted reading material or even Play-Doh.”
While it may seem almost childish to some, years of research have proven the benefits that can come from focusing on an artform, like coloring. Adult coloring books have become a trend for stress-relief, and also are something the University Wellness Program offers during its Worry-Free Wednesday program occurring the last Wednesday of each month. Sitting down with a coloring book and freshly sharpened pencils can actually override the part of your brain that causes anxiety, Martin explained.
“I would say it’s an effective coping mechanism with immediate calming ability,” she said. “This method has been tested on cancer and PTSD patients. Coloring requires focus and therefore can stop negative thoughts in their track. Additionally, the result of coloring is typically visually appealing and therefore produces positive thoughts. This ultimately allows one to let go of the negative thought and replace it with a positive thought, though often the thoughts are disconnected to each other.”
Martin suggests, if you’re up to the challenge, download this personalized one-of-a-kind Georgia Southern adult coloring page, grab some colored pencils and click “print!”
If you find relaxation, or even just some school spirit, from the coloring experience, send your best masterpiece to socialmedia@georgiasouthern.edu for a chance to be featured on University social media.
Join the University Wellness Program on Wednesday, Nov. 29, for the last Worry-Free Wednesday of the semester. To learn more about stress relief and University resources visit http://recreation.georgiasouthern.edu/wellness/ or http://students.georgiasouthern.edu/counseling/.
Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 118 degree programs serving 20,418 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.
