Midterm madness

Simple ways to relieve the stress

DAYNA STEINFELD

As the month of September has long past, the school year is officially in full swing. By now the readings have piled up, the labs have all gotten started, midterms are looming, and it is becoming obvious that those papers are not going to write themselves. The mounting stress on campus is palpable. The fact is, however, that stress does not need to be a constant in our lives. Since this is easier said than done, every student should have a full tool belt of stress relievers. For those of you who may be too stressed out to even contemplate just how you should go about relieving stress, I have compiled a helpful list of ideas.

Detox at Degrees

Eating is an excellent way to relax. However, some places on campus are better for relaxation than others. My personal pick is Degrees, located on the third floor of University Centre, where the food is good but the atmosphere is better. The food courts on campus are high-traffic, hightension areas and (while convenient), serve mostly to raise blood pressure. Heading to Degrees allows you to slow down, hang out with friends, and bask in the funky ambiance (who doesn’t find enjoyment in being identified by a random knick-knack?). Avoid further stress by ordering the daily special, which gets you a ton of good food for a low-stress price.

Switch library locations

I love the Dafoe library for its excellent reference librarians, large computer lab, and multitude of photocopiers. Yet because it is the most prominent library on campus, it is also usually the busiest. Busy equals increased noise levels, which can be irritating to those of us who just want to study in peace. Checking out the different libraries on campus (there are 14 in all) will allow you to find the place that facilitates your very best studying. Because when you study better, you get more work done and this will no doubt take some weight off of your shoulders.

Shop

Okay, so campus is not the best place for retail therapy, but shopping addicts like me can still get their fix by hitting up the campus bookstore. Students who like to get in, get their textbooks, and get out are missing a lot. Next time you’re feeling stressed and need a quick solution, try browsing the area at the front of the bookstore. Here you’ll find the magazines, the fiction and non-fiction sections, greeting cards, trinkets and books on everything from parenting to celebrities. So if you are all worked up over not having time to get to the mall for that birthday/anniversary/ whatever gift, save yourself some worry by checking out the Bookstore first.

Let loose

Take advantage of your precious weekends and have a little bit of fun. The area in and around campus is swamped with bars, pubs and lounges, so take advantage of it. Sure, you’ll probably regret that hangover tomorrow, but at least you forgot about that killer midterm for a couple of hours.

Sweat it out

If you’re like me and consider your walk from U-lot to class your daily exercise, then skip over this list item. However, there are many students who find they relieve their stress best by sweating it out. So get a gym membership, go for a swim, try out an aerobics class or simply take a walk around campus (though this can be modified to a tunnel walk in January). Hey, if it works for you then go for it. Plus you gotta work off lunch at Degrees somehow.

Say it out loud

You are not alone in your stressinduced stupor. Guaranteed, the person sitting right next to you in class is feeling the exact same way. So try bringing it up one day. Chatting about your stress in a light-hearted way makes it seem less scary and takes some of the edge off. Plus, this is an excellent conversation-starter if you have been unsure how to talk to the attractive person that you purposely sit next to every day.

These are just a few suggestions. Feel free to find what works for you, and then do that thing as much as you need to. The important thing to remember is to not let your university years pass by in a haze of stress. Allow yourself to create some fond memories, open yourself up to new possibilities, and enjoy yourself while you are at it. And if all else fails, just do what we all do and pray for that grade curve to throw a little help your way.