Spring Semester is often the season for students to feel the most stress and burnout, despite the spring flowers and summer promises just around the corner. This season also marks for many the final leg in the race to graduate. So in lieu of our drop date passing and the third week of the semester already kicking off, we thought it might be helpful to hear from some of our professors and campus counselors on what tips they have to help seniors avoid a crashout.
Take time for yourself, go outside!
Starting with psychology counselors Chrissy Lofgren and Jesus Floriano-Ramirez, with some advice on slowing down, getting some air and self care.
“I will tell my students to take breaks, it’s okay to get up and go for a walk if they are feeling overwhelmed and stressed. I also encourage them to communicate with professors and always remember to take time to practice self care,” said Lofgren.
“One thing I love to mention to students is to explore their surroundings (hiking, sunset walks on the beach) and always to take breaks when feeling overwhelmed,” said Ramirez. “Exploring the local beaches or supporting your local coffee shops (resist corporate coffee) to do homework or group projects can provide a welcome change of scenery and promote a sense of well-being!”
Get clear on your obligations, try making a list
Philosophy professor, Glorian Provost offers some words of wisdom around stress management and only focusing on what is within your control.
“For me, I feel stress when I feel the weight of many obligations in a fuzzy kind of way,” said Provost. “It helps me to make a list and get everything out of my head and onto a piece of paper. Then I rank them in level of importance and due dates. Just getting clear about my obligations helps me a lot. I find it calming.”
“I don’t know where this phrase comes from, but I really like to use it in my life and it goes like this: ‘The MAIN thing is to keep the MAIN thing the MAIN thing.’”
“We don’t have to do everything all at once. We just have to do what is necessary and then move on to the next thing,” Provost said, “Don’t dwell on the past or waste time worrying about things [you] can’t control in the future. Just one thing at a time.”
Clubs and third spaces are your best friends
Humanities and communication professors Patrick Belanger and Alie Jones give tips on a few practical and hands-on ways to keep on track and prepare for success.
“Join a club, it may seem counterintuitive to add one more thing, but a social life is crucial, and a core perk of university life,” said Belanger. “Hangout at the OSU and library [and while you’re there don’t be afraid to talk with] the librarians, they are super helpful.”
Same goes for your professors, “Ask for help and talk with your instructors, they are paid to help you! Try office hours or talk to them after class.”
Limit social media to prioritize rest
Belanger also encourages students to, “Quit, or limit, social media. It’s ideal to work in short focussed sessions, like 30 minutes of uninterrupted reading or writing. Try to remember that reading and thinking is the entire point of university. It can be challenging, but that’s good.”
“Avoid the all-nighter writing or studying. Your brain will thank you and you’ll be far smarter after the rest,” said Belanger, gently calling out anyone who procrastinates. Lastly, “Try a hardcopy calendar [or] day planner, this gives a helpful visual overview of key deadlines.”
Professor Jones agrees, sharing that “My tip is to have a digital and physical calendar like a Google Calendar and a planner. We all juggle so much it shouldn’t live just in our heads. Writing dates and times down helps me remember and prioritize rest rather than just saying yes because I see an opening.”
Set priorities, but remember you have already done the hard part
The last words of encouragement to our seniors comes from Academic Advisor Teresa Salters.
“The spring semester always goes by way too fast, especially for seniors, because graduation feels super close but there’s still a lot to handle. Remember that you’ve already accomplished the hardest part by getting this far, so now it’s about finishing strong,” said Salters.
“Check in with a student success advisor to get organized, set priorities and stay on track as things pick up. I also always suggest visiting the Cooperative Learning Center early, often and when you need to surround yourself with focused, motivated people. If a friend seems stuck or overwhelmed, try to bring them along. You’ve got this, Otters!”