Stress Less Week events this year start Monday and go until Thursday, May 1. The events will take place in front of the Student Union from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Counseling Center along with the Office of Health Promotion will be providing relaxing activities, games, crafts, raffles and door prizes for students. The Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society will also be bringing dogs to the campus for students to play with for stress relief.
The purpose of Stress Less Week is to provide activities that create a stress-free atmosphere for students before they take their final exams, according to Connie Holleman, graduate assistant at the university Counseling Center and assistant to the Counseling Center during Stress Less Week planning.
“We all know this week is typically spent cramming for exams, wishing we wouldn’t have procrastinated and begging professors for drop grades,” Holleman said.
Holleman went on to explain that Stress Less Week is a much-needed relief for the students.
“We definitely think students need the little break from the chaos of preparing for exams – that we aim to provide them with,” she said.
Vicki Mahan, assistant director of the university Counseling Center, said she sees more students coming to the center at the end of the semester.
“At the end of a semester, we have a good deal of walk-in clients needing to talk with someone. Often, these are not clients that will continue with counseling after the semester is over,” Mahan said.
According to Dr. Stephen Choteau, staff physician at the university Student Health Center, stress can be harmful to students’ health.
“Stress can affect students’ health by lowering the immune system somewhat and by affecting the ability to clearly think and plan for coursework,” Choteau said.
Mahan said the event that will bring therapy puppies to the students is one of the best ways to deal with stress.
“Playing with or petting an animal can increase levels of the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin and decrease production of the stress hormone cortisol,” she said. “These hormonal changes can help people feel more relaxed and possibly make a person more open to a better perspective about stressors in their lives.”
Caroline Loveless, sophomore public policy leadership major, says this semester has been her hardest and is looking forward to the puppies coming to campus.
“I definitely think this is something that I will take advantage of this upcoming exam week,” Loveless said. “I think we are very lucky as students to have the opportunity to participate in these free events that are designed to help us.”
