Wellness Center interns Stevie Jeung and Rachael Prow provided a warm, inviting environment with red tablecloths, steaming tea and baked treats, exemplifying the perfect setting for studying, and also gave attendees tips on how to improve students’ studying habits and stress management.

1. What inspired you to hold this presentation? We talk to a lot of student who are stressed during this time of year. We believe that it is important to have healthy and effective study and stress management strategies. TTT allows us to talk to students about strategies and allows us to see students who might not otherwise come into the Wellness Center.  
2. Has it been done before? Yes, this is the second year that the Wellness Center has done TTT. We are planning to hold another TTT before spring semester finals!

3. What topics have you covered in the past and what do you have planned for the future? We always discuss study strategies and give students a chance to reflect on their processes. We try and vary the material semester to semester to make sure students can learn something new each time.  

4. What message would you like the students to take away? That feeling stress is both common and natural, and that not all stress is bad. Additionally, there are many ways to manage and control feelings of stress related to both academics and personal problems. Balance is important, both for academic success and for mental health!

5. What are your top 5 tips about study skills and stress management? This is a tough one! Students who didn’t attend are welcome to pick up a packet of materials at the Wellness Center. If we had to sum up our top 5 tips, they would be:

1.  Take care of yourself! Eating well, getting enough sleep, and avoiding drugs, alcohol, and non-prescribed pills will help your brain to function its best.

2. Use your network of knowledge. Using cognitive study strategies such as summarizing learned material and associating it with existing knowledge enhances your ability to understand and remember information.  

3. Use metacognitive study strategies! This means checking in with yourself about how and why you’re studying certain material. If the strategy you’re using isn’t working in a particular situation or subject, change it up.

4. Make time to slow down. It may seem counterintuitive to slow down when you have so much to do, but a few minutes of time to meditate, take a walk, color, or make yourself smile is an investment that will make your productive time more effective.

5. Practice balance. Take short, frequent breaks (every 25 minutes or so if you’re using the pomodoro method) to keep your mind active. Try doing a short physical or mental activity (walking around the block, jumping jacks, meditation) during breaks rather than embarking on a YouTube binge.
6. What didn’t I ask that you think is important to add? Students should feel free to drop in at the Wellness Center. Our services are free and confidential.