Stress is building up for many students 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 Testing 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 Instructor Amy Nuetzman agreed that a balanced level of stress can help students be more successful with exams and studying.
“It tends to put us more in prime form,” she said. “Too much really lowers 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 friends 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 little cramming the night before an exam as possible.
“They’re invested in the test by studying 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 appointments 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 future 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 available now.
The Counseling and Testing Center 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 diversity 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 students 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 acknowledge 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 remember to put things in perspective. But once in while, he said he does become 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, I don’t have time to deal with it,” she said.
Miyaguchi said it is important to remember that stress isn’t something to deal with only after it has become overbearing.
“Ideally, stress management is part of your lifestyle,” he said.