‘Stress Less Fair’ Shares Tips for Students During Mental Health Week
Students passing by Bruin Plaza from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today had the opportunity to grab free swag as part of the Undergraduate Students Association Council’s Student Wellness Commission (SWC), Academic Affairs Commission, Active Minds, GenRep2 and RAK’s “Mental Health Week” which kicked off with the first event of the week in the “Stress Less Fair.”
Not only were the student organizations giving out free blue books, scantrons, tea samples, trail mixes, exercise tips, sleep masks, flu shots and even hugs (those in dire need of a hug were encouraged to request a specific type of hug such as the “cinnamon roll,” “oreo” or “superman”), representatives from the Student Health Investigative Task Force (SHITF) were present to give out information garnered through peer review journals regarding student health.
“It’s all about finding healthier alternatives to energy drinks and adderalls while promoting better sleep,” said second-year global studies student and SHITF director Savannah Badalich. “Adderall especially is a huge problem on campus.”
Here are healthier alternatives to adderall (courtesy of SWC and SHITF) to those who are looking for an intervention:
- Foods containing vitamin B (brown rice, yeast, green vegetables, citrus fruits, etc.)
- Fatty omega oils (watch out for that fish burp)
- Exercise, acupuncture and yoga (you’re still sweating)
Here are tips to help you sleep longer and better (again courtesy of SWC and SHITF):
- Stick to a sleep schedule. Even on weekends.
- Avoid caffeinated beverages.
- Stay away from nicotine and alcohol before bed.
- Leave distractions like laptops and cellphones out of reach. Plus, you won’t snooze if you have to get up to turn off the alarm.
- Help your internal biological clock by getting proper sun exposure during the day. If you’re a night owl (such as myself) and prefer the warm light radiating from your MacBook over the sunshine peeking through your blinds, you’re probably delusional and not getting enough sleep.