Stress Relief

Engineering is stressful, growing up is stressful, maintaining friendships is stressful, being a millennial is stressful. Just about everyone will experience some sort of stress during their time here at Purdue. Here are some things you can do if stress is affecting your academic performance or mental health.


Talk to a friend or professor - Sometimes talking through how you feel or learning that someone else feels the same way can be very therapeutic. Holding in what is causing you distress is usually not helpful and can make you feel alone.


Plan time in your schedule to do things you enjoy - If you are constantly working and studying, you will get burnt out rather quickly. Make sure to leave some free time for friends, hobbies, or naps so you don’t feel like you are not living your life.


Get things done ahead of time - This might be the most important one. Nothing will stress you out like trying to do everything at the last minute. Have a game plan for every assignment and spend a little bit of time working on it every day. That way you will have time to ask for help if you need it and avoid staying up late trying to complete it before the deadline.


Exercise! - Taking some time to be physically active is a great way to relieve stress…and your body will thank you for it. Engineering requires a lot of time sitting in front of a computer so it’s good to get up and stretch every once in a while if you are feeling stressed. You also don’t have to run marathons or spend 4 hours at the Corec to do this. You can get exercise by walking around the mall, playing ping pong, or even walking to class.

Utilize the Corec’s mindfulness room - Meditation is not everyone’s thing, but if you are feeling stressed, it can be fun and worth a try. It’s free for all students and can be a great way to relax and practice some deep breathing.


Get plenty of sleep and rest when you need it - Sleep is important, especially for young adults. Having a demanding schedule and social life can leave you feeling drained and stressed. Catch up on some sleep on the weekends and don’t be afraid to take a short rest if you feel you need it.


Be yourself - Trying to fit in to a group of people you don’t feel comfortable with can really stress anyone out. College is usually a turning point where people feel they can finally be themselves and enjoy life. Students at Purdue are very accepting and friendly to anyone no matter their background, gender, major, sexual orientation, race, or SAT score.