As the fall semester comes to an end, students must first make it through their final exams before heading home for the holidays.
Tomorrow, Thursday Dec. 8, the Pierce College Psychology and Sociology Club, Get Psyched, is partnering with the ASO Community Welfare Committee to bring students, ‘No Stress Test Day.’
The event will take place in Rocky Young Park, located in between the Center for Sciences and the Library / Learning Crossroads from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
According to Nicky Hayes, editor of the bestselling textbook “Foundations of Psychology,” exam stress can lead to irregular eating habits, disturbed sleep patterns, an increase in infections, and the inability to concentrate.
The goal of No Stress Test Day is to help prepare students for their upcoming exams by providing them with an outlet to relieve their stress, according to Get Psyched Vice President Sanam Tehrani.
“This event is really going to be focused on how to deal mentally, how to breathe and good techniques for when you’re taking your test,” Tehrani said. “You want to be in that stress-free zone and feel confident in what you’re doing.”
Many students report elevated levels of stress during exam time, which can lead to problems focusing.
“When finals roll around I get stressed out, but I do my best to manage my stress through exercise,” said Pierce student Rebecca Kashanirokh. “Sometimes people don’t know how to cope with stress so getting ideas would be helpful.”
Members of the Psychology / Sociology Club, along with professors, will be going over breathing techniques with students at the event. In addition, there will be stations for meditation, aromatherapy and coloring.
For those who prefer more aggressive stress relief techniques, Get Psyched is hoping to have a pinata for students to smash their stress out.
Representatives from the Pierce Student Health Center and from CSUN will be there to distribute worksheets and to provide deeper insight about ways to manage stress beyond coloring and breathing exercises. Maybe you’re the type of person to look into the best cbd oil uk reviews and possibly self-medicate to relieve yourself of stress, either way there will be guides on different ways you can manage your stress levels. Websites like Yours Nutrition sell lots of CBD based products which are known to relieve stress and anxiety, so if you are experiencing this, CBD might be a good option for you.
The Pre-Vet Club will also be at the event with animals from the farm that students are encouraged to interact with.
According to Get Psyched President Michelle LeFort, there is a lot of research to back up the idea that spending time with animals can help to lower levels of stress.
“We want to provide a space for [students] to learn a few relaxation techniques and take a couple of minutes out of their day to try to unwind,” LeFort said. “Distress and refresh, so they can get right back to it.”
Though the ASO has hosted similar events in the past, this is the first time Get Psyched has been involved. LeFort hopes this larger No Stress Test Day event will become an annual or biannual occurrence.
