For a busy student, it might seem as though there is no time or place for relaxation.
But before you give up all hope of mitigating all that stress, consider the following places around campus that students and faculty recommend for de-stressing.
The Living Well Lounge located at the University Student Union offers a variety of services for students.
“It’s run by students for students,” said Susan Krikorian, a health educator at the health center.
The Living Well Lounge offers students weekly aroma therapy and guided meditation workshops, stress management and sleep improvement techniques, and massage chairs that provide 15-minute massages. They also have a biofeedback machine that measures students’ heart rhythm and offers guided breathing as a stress management tool.
Additionally, there are board games, health-related books and a couch for students to lounge on. The lounge also offers nutrition counseling by appointment.
According to Krikorian, the lounge gets very busy every day, whether its students who go in regularly, or first-timers who go in to explore. All the services at the Living Well Lounge are free for students.
“It’s a really accessible and safe environment for students to come and experience these modalities,” said Margaux Permutt, a health education intern. “It gives them an opportunity to be wellness leaders.”
The Living Well Lounge is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Besides the Living Well lounge, these overt locations are also available:
The Botanic Garden – The Botanic Garden is a great place to cool off, get some shade under the trees and bask in the diverse collection of plants grown in the garden. This is a place where students can get away from their hectic weekday afternoons, recharge and maybe have a lunch break in a relaxing atmosphere for a change.
Oviatt Library – Students can go to the library to relax and escape the high temperatures outside in a quiet and air conditioned environment. You can also grab a beverage or snack from the Freudian Sip in the main lobby.
Outdoor tables and benches – These are plenty around campus. Students can take some time to breathe in the fresh air and unwind. The outdoor tables are great for enjoying a meal or simply observing the movement and chatter around campus.
Car – Some students opt to spend their breaks in their cars, where it’s quiet and private. Dolores Arredondo, 19, a sophomore child development and adolescent major, has a five-hour gap between classes. “I like to go to my car and read between my classes,” she said.
Pub Sports Grill – What better way to unwind than eating, drinking and watching sports? This is also the only place on campus where you can grab a beer and unwind, at least for a few minutes.
