Workshop tackles midterm burnout and stress

CSC Wellness, the Office of Academic Success, and Project Strive/ Trio came together to put on a workshop about how to manage burnout and stress on Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. With freebies and group activities at the ready, students were in for an hour of learning how to best handle stressful times.

Relaxation exercises and understanding the difference between stress and burnout were a few of the topics covered by Chantel Merchen, director of the Office of Academic Success. “It is about mentally, what do we need to do to be successful?” Merchen said. One of her favorite ideas to teach students for managing stress is box breathing, which can be used in stressful moments when you don’t want to draw attention to yourself. Along with coping mechanisms, Merchen provided information about what stress and burnout look like. “Recognizing early signs helps you take action sooner,” she said.

“If you try and change your mind or change your perspective on something, it can be really beneficial for your whole life,” said Laynee Boltz, a sophomore in the communications department. Boltz also remarked on the need for workshops like these on campus, as they are beneficial not only for her but also for her friends and others on campus.

Sonja Dressel, a licensed student counselor in Project Strive, was also in attendance to provide additional support for students. A stress coping mechanism that she focuses on is self-care. Not the bubble bath and skin care kind, but the one where someone takes time to create a clean area for themselves or does the things others can’t do for you, like attending these workshops.