Archives for May 2014

MudSlam!

mud slam4MudSlam this year was originally planned for Sunday, the 13th of April. However, the weather predicted for this day was not very good. It was very cold this day, so MudSlam was canceled. Ironically, Kansas decided to bless us with some snow later that night. Our next try for MudSlam was Sunday, April 11th. As we got closer to the date, there were many nervous students because there was a high prediction of rain for that day. Thankfully, the weather was not too bad when the day arrived! It was quite windy, but very warm out. This was the first year of playing MudSlam that I did not shiver on the sidelines while not playing. However, it was very hard when playing on the north court because there was a very strong wind coming from the South. My team had many passes that came right back in our faces, and it was very difficult trying to serve against the wind. However, it was very funny to watch people try to serve into the wind.

 


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The “Blockbusters” ended up winning the whole tournament. Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible!

Winning team!

Winning team!

 

 

Stress Busters: Part 2

As promised, here are some more ways to reduce stress! This time, however, I asked my own mod mates what they do to reduce stress.

I compiled some of their answers below:

Writing/Journaling – Writing and reflecting helps to relax and to put things in a new perspective or help them see things that they hadn’t thought before.

Playing Piano – This can also translate into doing something that you enjoy. Whether it is playing an instrument, playing a sport, reading a book, or anything else that is enjoyable to you that can help you relax!

Cuddle – Sometimes all you need to de-stress are some hugs!

Go running – As mentioned in my previous blog, one of the girls said that they run to help get rid of stress. Again, running has been shown to reduce stress by the endorphins that it releases.

Confide in friends/support systems – This is a tip that one of my mod mates mentioned but also one that is an important way that I de-stress as well. Being able to talk to friends or family about what is stressing me out can help me sometimes in ways that writing or journaling does. Sometimes when I am talking it through I can either see things from a new perspective, or think about something I hadn’t before.

Listening to Music – I also mentioned this in my other stress buster blog but it just reinforces that it is a good way to relieve stress! Listening to music/positive music was mentioned by a couple of my mod mates.

Brain breaks– This tip from one of the girls is also another important way that I relieve stress. Taking a break to go have some social time and visit with friends, or catch up on an episode of a favorite show are all ways to get the mind off of studying for a little while so that we can come back and refocus and be productive!

Good luck to everyone on the rest of their school years! Whether it be taking finals, giving finals and grades, or anyone else in stressful situations, I hope these “stress busters” can help get you through!

 

 

Stress Buster Tips

Today is reading day, which is the day before finals start in which we have no classes and can study and prepare for our finals. It’s crazy to think that this time of the year is already here. To help relieve some of the stress of finals, I find it helpful to remember some easy ways to reduce stress to get me through studying and through finals week.

Five tips  to reduce stress courtesy of  the Huffington post article : “23 Scientifically-Backed Ways to Reduce Stress Right Now”

1. Progressive Relaxation – I have actually used this before and it has been very helpful. You start at your head and move all the way to your toes, tensing and then releasing/relaxing each muscle group. Once the body is fully relaxed, it is supposed to help relax your mind too.

2. Breathe Deep – Yes, sometimes it can be as simple as that!  It has been proven that taking deep breaths lower cortisol levels which helps to reduce stress and anxiety.

3. Listen to Music  – There has been research showing music can help relieve stress by triggering biochemical stress reducers. Another good reason for me to listen to music!

4. Exercise – If you need a brain break from all your studying or work, go exercise! Research says that post-exercise endorphin rush is a good way to sharply reduce stress.

5. Take a Nap If you aren’t feeling exercise for a brain break, try taking a power nap instead! This also has been shown to reduce cortisol levels which aids in stress relief. This tip will definitely come in handy for me personally!

So whether you are like me and studying for finals, or in the education field and rushing to get everything done before the end of the school year, or just having a stressful time in work or in general, remember these easy tips to reduce stress and stay tuned for some more stress-reducing tips!

 

 

Mod Life: Finding Fun Amidst Stress

882371_10154069404795433_9071790254331536409_oThese last few weeks of school each semester can get pretty stressful. Luckily, I have a wonderful mod of girls whom I live with and we have been able to combat some of this stress with some fun activities.

First off, for a whole week our mod lounge looked like the picture on the right indicates. We had a giant sleepover together!

There was a lot of bonding, pillow talk, and studying done together out in our lounge or makeshift “giant bedroom.”

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We also have been taking advantage of the nice weather and doing or homework (or not) while laying outside in the mod courtyard on blankets!

The girls in my mod are definitely not the only people laying out and doing homework outdoors either. A lot of other students have been doing the same!

Our mod has also been celebrating birthdays, going to half-price apps, attending other events on campus such as: The Cinco de Mayo event that Student Senate put on (guacamole, salsa, refreshments and salsa dancing!) the Woven concert (which was amazing) , Jazz on the Green, senior recitals, and more!

It is hard to believe that we are officially done with classes and that all we have left are finals to study for and take. In the next few days you can expect from me some “stress buster tips” or ways to get yourself (and myself!) through the last days of school, or if school no longer applies to you than stressful days at work!

 

Late Night Against Procrastination

IMG_0890This past Wednesday we got to experience a new event on campus which was very successful!

Paige Townley, along with many other faculty helped put on the event “Late Night Against Procrastination”. A college in Germany apparently started this idea.

This event was hosted in the library from 9:00pm – 1:00am. It was designed so that students could come into the library with their unfinished assignments to work on them. Not only this, but there were faculty, tutors, and professors there to help answer questions, edit papers, help with researching, provide moral support and fun brain breaks including Minute to Win it and yoga! Not to mention they provided lots of delicious food and drinks along with free printing all night!

I, along with several of my mod mates went to participate in this event and I was surprised with how many people showed up! I would guess there were about 50 students who came to partake in this event. It was definitely the most amount of people I had ever seen in the library at one time!

When we got there we signed in and wrote down on a sticky note what our goal for the night was. After writing the sticky note, we placed it on a dart board and our goal was to move our sticky note to the “bulls eye” which means we finished our goal. Awaiting us were healthy snacks like carrots, cheese, sugar snap peas, and apples, along with Mojos cookies, coffee, and tea!

There were professors roaming around to see if people needed assistance, ranging from the business, social work, english, and music departments to name a few. Librarians were also there along with Paige Townley and other faculty willing to come out and help.

At 10:00pm they brought in pizza and pop, at 11:00pm we had a yoga break led by Barb Thiesen, at 12:00am people who wanted to played Minute to Win it, and at 1:00am students who were still there got t-shirts for either staying the whole time or completing a goal!

I thought it was a great idea and a fun way to help students get projects done and have assistance there for them if they need it. Since there was so much of a turn out, I (along with everyone I have talked to) hope that this event continues to be a tradition, (maybe even twice a semester?)