Stress and Depression
Stress Reduction
What can you do to help manage your stress levels? Come by the Wellness Center to check out the range of resources and media available for use in our relaxation room. Give yourself some time to escape from campus pressures for a while!
Take Care of Yourself!
- Get plenty of exercise: The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that everyone should do 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity on five or more days of the week, if appropriate. Did you know you're probably already a member of the Rice Recreation Center? Take advantage of it!
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet: Book a nutritional consultation at the Wellness Center by dialing ext. 5194.
- Adequate sleep: Most Rice students survive on limited amounts of sleep; however, your body needs a certain amount of sleep per night to rest and replenish. This amount will vary from person to person.
- Time management: Rice students tend to be high-achievers and balance an academic timetable with social and extra-curricular commitments. Learn more how to manage your time more effectively.
- Develop support systems: Stay in touch with family and both old and new friends, get involved in organizations, interact with co-workers/peer group members.
- Set realistic goals: Learn to say "NO"! It's tempting--especially your first year at college--to want to get involved with everything. It's important to discover what you like, but make sure you're not over-committing yourself.
- Avoid self-medication: Find out more information on prescription drug abuse from the FDA, Meditation-Mantra, Breath Control, Gazing, Muscular Tension Release, Yoga.
- Make a list: Making lists can help keep you on target and organized, as well as give you a clear view of your objectives.
Take a breather!
For immediate stress reduction:
- Sit in a comfortable position.
- Close your eyes.
- Focus on deeply relaxing all of your muscles and keep them relaxed.
- Breathe through your nose. Become aware of your breathing and as you breathe out, repeat a word (such as "one") silently to yourself. Keep distracting thoughts from interfering by concentrating on repeating the word.
- Continue for ten or twenty minutes.
- When you are done, do not stand up immediately, but sit with your eyes open for a few minutes.
Source: "Breather from Stress" taken from Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson, M.D. (New York, NY: William Morrow); 1975.
Don't forget to take advantage of the massage and acupuncture therapies available at a discounted rate at the Wellness Center--call ext. 5194 to arrange an appointment.
