Owls Breathe

Each month, we'll provide new tips and strategies to help you manage the stress of university.

April 20 - May 1: Owls breathe deeply

Phew! You made it to the end of the semester. It’s time to focus on making it to the finish line. An essential part of the journey is managing your stress. There are many ways you can manage your stress in between classes or finals, like making customized meditation mixes in your virtual Zen Room on Welltrack Boost, enjoying a massage chair in CAPS, grabbing a custom aromatherapy blend from Owls Care, or enjoying one of the many scenic and soothing spaces on campus. Want to practice a relaxation technique right now? Try Box Breathing to breathe deeply:

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position
Take a deep breath in for four seconds, using your diaphragm (this means your belly should be expanding as you breathe in)
Hold that breath for four seconds
Breathe out for four seconds
Hold that breath for four seconds
Repeat for a few minutes

Past Tips

Tap the items below to view our previous tips.

February 2-22:

Owls breathe, plan, and resolve

Starting a new semester can be overwhelming, but a little planning can go a long way. Whether it’s breaking down a long paper into manageable parts or talking through a plan of action with a trusted person, planning how to handle a stressful situation can make a difference. Here are some quick tips on how to breathe, plan, and resolve:

Check the syllabus for each of your classes and plan out your assignments for the semester on your calendar of choice
Break down large assignments to complete over several weeks to avoid all-nighters
Chat with your Resident Assistant to learn ways to address issues with a roommate
Create an action plan to attend events, including how you will get to and from the event, how you will meet with your friends, how long you will be there, when you will eat/hydrate, etc.
Making a schedule each week to include time for your classes, studying, work, fitness, meals/meal prepping, sleep, and extracurricular activities.

February 23-March 13:

Owls breathe and connect for help

Connecting with others for help may take some practice, but it’s easy once you start. First, find someone with knowledge or experience in what you’re going through. This can look like a tutor, professor, sibling, friend, someone who has taken your class before, or really anyone with this knowledge! Then reach out to them. Send them an email, text, or phone call, depending on your relationship with them. Set up a time to talk and ask them questions like, “What strategies helped you get through this?” or “What resources did you use?” After getting the information, apply what you learned! You can also ask multiple people for advice or help to get you where you need to be. Here are some quick examples on what connecting with others for help can look like:

Going to tutoring at the Center for Teaching and Learning
Going to Counseling and Psychological Services for help with a life stressor
Going to a group fitness class in Campus Recreation when you want to get more active
Talking with a friend who has taken the same class as you to get advice
Going to your professor’s office hours for help with an assignment

March 16 – April 3:

Owls breathe and take action

Sometimes the best way to address an issue is to tackle it head-on. Taking action means examining the issue and finding the most direct solution. This could look like changing the situation you are in or doing something to make the situation better. Here are some quick examples on what taking action can look like:

When faced with financial issues, learning budgeting, talking with Financial Aid, or applying for the Helping Hands Emergency Grant
Setting boundaries with friends or family
Meet with your academic advisor for class schedule issues
Use a planner to manage your time or say “no” to things that don’t fit into your schedule
Visit the Career Center or use Handshake to find an internship or part-time job
Feeling tired? Set a regular sleep schedule or visit Student Health Services for help
Join a study group to stay on track with assignments and provide extra motivation to get work done
Get your body moving in your favorite way, like dancing, swimming, walking (or anything!), to help relieve stress and boost your mood

April 6-17:

Owls breathe and lean on friends

Friends are there for you, just like you’re there for them. Talking to someone who “gets you” can help you cope with life stressors, especially when using that with the other coping strategies mentioned in previous weeks. Try setting up a day to spend some quality time with someone you want to strengthen your relationship with, like going out to a meal or setting up some library study time together. Here are some examples of leaning on friends:

Reaching out to a friend to have lunch together when you’re feeling down or stressed
Asking a friend if you can vent to them about what’s going on in your life, then making a plan to address it
Using active listening and empathy when listening to a friend having a hard time
Asking a friend for a low-key night to hang out

Check out current campus events to attend with your friends in Owl Central!

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