The beginning of a fall semester — whether you are a wide-eyed first-year or a senior that cannot wait to leave — is an exciting yet stressful checkpoint for all college students. Adjusting to a new living area, rigorous courses and demanding extracurriculars while balancing a healthy lifestyle is one of the biggest challenges students face.
This wide range of pressures creates an abundance of stress, but that stress isn’t always, or even often, because of what is happening in front of our eyes. Instead, much of students’ stress comes from worrying about what might happen in the future. According to URMC, “our bodies don’t distinguish between ‘real’ vs ‘imagined’ stress,” implying that something as simple as self-doubt about an upcoming exam or balancing a busy schedule can cause the same stress response as if you were in a highly dangerous scenario. Rather than trying to “fix” this stress however, URMC encourages us to look at this obstacle “with curiosity and compassion for yourself.”
Instead of stressing yourself out more by worrying about how stressed you are, students can instead take the opportunity to find spaces that help us eliminate worries and ultimately create a more enjoyable college experience. This can be a dorm room designed uniquely for you, a calming environment to study, or a place to meet new people that share similar interests and hobbies.
Dorm decoration is important for personal comfort. For students who have the privilege of a single or their own room in a suite, this can become a personalized study space if used effectively. The goal is to create a place for both productivity and relaxation that is specifically designed for you, free of judgement. For example, you can place lamps in a way that makes you relaxed while still maintaining focus and have a speaker to quietly play music. When it is time to take a quick break, you can stock essentials such as a yoga mat and a video game system as a quick way to unwind before getting back to work.
For those who did not necessarily luck out in the housing lottery, or are navigating living with a roommate in the First-Year Quad, you can instead turn to a spot that is notorious for enabling an efficient study session with little distractions: the Quiet Zone in Gleason Library. Although the main area of Gleason is a great place to collaborate on group projects or chip away at assignments while being with your friends, it can be a difficult place to actually get things done. Lucky for us, the Quiet Zone offers a complete contrast to the chatty environment right outside its doors and is also open 24 hours.
Its location is nearly perfect, too. During study breaks, students can easily find a change of scenery and have a quick chat with friends nearby in iZone and other areas of Rush Rhees, while the Pit and Starbucks are accessible for caffeine and a quick treat without having to walk outside during the cold Rochester winter. But if you need to get outside and experience fresh air when getting a snack, Hillside Market is conveniently located just a short walk away.
If you find yourself not being able to sit at a desk for one more second, look no further than the Goergen Athletic Center (GAC). The GAC allows students to stay active while interacting with others that share common interests. Whether it is to avoid outdoor cardio on a rainy day by using the treadmills in the gym or playing pickup basketball to get your mind off of a poor exam performance, the GAC is where you can decompress no matter the reason or time of year.
Beyond embracing URochester’s vibrant social life, you can also join clubs to help build your career. The Meliora Finance & Investment Group, Mock Trial, the Campus Times (wink, wink), and so many more, including the Catan Club, Chess Club are all great examples. — not to say that chess is not a sport!
Although a new semester often makes students anxious to hit the ground running with big plans and ambitious goals, it is important to build time in your schedule for fun and relaxation.
Exercise and community are great elements to having a balanced semester, but it’s important to take proper care of your mental health by taking a productivity break.
This can mean spending time with friends, exploring Rochester and its nearby areas, or simply watching your favorite TV series or sports while occasionally eating a few too many sweets. As long as they are done in moderation, these are all healthy ways to unwind — and unwinding is just as important to good grades as studying.
