ASU Wellness health educator Victor Corral speaks during a stress management workshop in Discovery Hall at the Tempe campus on Dec. 3, 2014. The workshop gave tips to students looking to manage their finals week stress. (Photo by Daniel Kwon)ASU’s department of Graduate Education reminded students in an informative session Wednesday that taking the time to clear the mind and getting priorities straight will allow studying and achieving higher grades to come almost effortlessly.
Students are racing to the finish line of the semester, either with ease or in panic; stress just happens to be an inevitable factor between studying and finals.
This educational session included ways to not only help students get through stress at school but also at work and home.
Communications sophomore Ariel Gutierrez said he found the session helpful.
“It is important to constantly remind yourself that stress is a natural thing and it happens to everyone, but not to let negative stress get to you,” he said.
He added that focusing too much on negative stress can lead to decreases in academic performance.
“Sure, you want get a great grade, but it shouldn’t be worth ruining your chances of doing your best because lack of sleep or overwhelm yourself,” he said.
Graduate education students and mentors emphasized the toll stress can take on the body.
Stress in combination with studying can lead to insomnia, fatigue and loss of sleep or difficulty in resting. Students who resort to staying up late or abusing pharmaceutical drugs must understand that there are healthier ways to succeed.
Economics freshman Jadie Miller said finals are not stressing her out as much as she was expecting.
"I only have one actual final because the rest of my classes do not require one," she said.
Although stress is not occurring during her finals season, Miller said she handles it well.
"I focus on one thing first, get that done, and then I will move on to my next task," she said. "I find it a lot easier that way."
The educational session also touched on ways to control this type of distress, such as writing down a list of tasks, focusing on studying subject by subject and even taking breaks.
Biomedical engineering sophomore Courtney Van Bussum is a certified yoga instructor. She said the psychological and physiological effects of stress are incredibly detrimental.
With a view on the more spiritual side of mindfulness, Van Bussum stressed how important it is to always breathe, believe in oneself, eat healthy, take constant breaks and every now and then take a mind-clearing walk.
“It is hugely important to find ways to manage stress as much as possible; even at the chemical level of the brain, stress can cause increases in cortisol which can actually limit your ability to remember and retain information,” Van Bussum said.
Reach the reporter aaceitun@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @Andydrae
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