Every four years the Associated Students of the University of Missouri asks for student’s feedback on their legislative priorities. Click here to take this short survey to let your student lobbying team know what you’d like to see them focus on.
Want to see what ASUM is currently working on? Look here and join us and fellow students from across Missouri to show your state legislators that YOU are paying attention.
Let your voice be heard and show your support for higher education on April 11th on the capitol steps and “Make a Stand” for students.
[This tip provided by Kendra Williams, senior Communications Study major.]
As the semester progresses, many students tend to become stressed out with seemingly overwhelming amounts of homework and other course requirements.
Well stress no more! While some stress of course is motivating, it certainly helps to know how to recognize and manage stress.
Here are some tips to help keep the stress away, or simply relieve stress:
- Make sure you are getting enough rest at night. Or, if you aren’t able to do so, and depending on what you have to do the next day, schedule some time in your day to take a power nap, for no more than two hours. But only if you can.
- Eat something within an hour after you awake, especially in the morning. And if you’re the type of person who tends to become hungry often; bring a lunchbox with you in order to eat snacks throughout the day. The ideal snacks to eat should be high in nutritious value also. A soda and a Milky Way bar are not recommended. Fruit and vegetables are handy snacks and healthy for you, too.
- Exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. Sure, walking is a great way to stay fit, but doing a series of jumping jacks, or running on the treadmill will enhance your level of fitness. So if you aren’t able to go to Swinney Recreation Center once a day, try and go at least twice a week. Or look-up a few at-home workout routines on YouTube.
- Keep track of tasks needed for completion. In other words, make a to-do list weekly, daily, or nightly before the following day. It may sound unnecessary, but it really does help to have a list of all the things you need to do, at your fingertips. Whether it is electronically available on your iPad or written the old fashioned way with a pen and paper. It helps tremendously! And it feels great to check tasks off the list!
- The MindBody Connection offers a great place to relax and learn more about coping with stress. The MBC has a relaxation station, featuring a massage chair, relaxation recordings, and a place for prayer and meditation. It also hosts Wii hours of the day where you can use Wii sports, Wii play, and Wii fit to get your body moving and also have some fun! Also check out MBC2Go for quick tips, apps, self-reflection, and other great tips!
- Treat yourself! Once you have completed a goal, pat yourself on the back. Whether it is going to see a movie you’ve been dying to see in the theaters, or getting tickets to go see a comedy show. Do it. Because you deserve it!
Spring break is in TWO WEEKS! Going from mid-January to the end of March with no breaks is tough, but it’s tougher to take a week off with no plan for when you get back!
Over the next two weeks, sit down with your calendar and class syllabi and make a list of all the assignments due for the rest of the semester. This will help you put everything into perspective and give you set of short-term and long-range goals. For each assignment, think about how long it will take you to complete it–you should have an idea of your study habits and how long it takes to read class materials. And by thinking about this now, nothing should sneak up on you after break!
So, right now you should also be thinking about those assignments due just after break. Take some time now to work ahead and finish these assignments before you leave or make other plans for the week. That way, if something comes up and you want to go on a trip, you can go without feeling stressed about all the work you have left!
Spring Break is supposed to be relaxing, spending time with friends and family. But if you do need to catch up on classwork, make sure you plan some time to take a break. One idea is to work on assignments in the morning and then take the rest of the day to relax and get outside. But it’s always best to do your work first–then you can reward yourself with an afternoon movie or dinner out with friends.
Careful planning can make Spring Break a true break, whether or not you have assignments due, no matter where you go. Plan now and you can come back refreshed and energized!
Nate Stodghill, a Kansas City area native and cast member of the ‘Real World: San Diego’ will speak about suicide prevention on Monday, March 18 at 7 pm in Student Union Multipurpose Room.
His message is based on his own experience in high school of losing a friend to suicide. He will share his story and discuss how you can help a friend who may be struggling. Stay after for the chance to meet Nate in person.
In the last year, 16% of UMKC students (and 19.9% of UMKC males) had suicidal thoughts – that’s about 2,500 students. Of those, 47.8% sought help first from friends or family (60% for males with suicidal thoughts). YOU may be the one a friend comes to when they are struggling. Find out how to help them get the help they need!
More information can be found at http://www.umkc.edu/counselingcenter/documents/nate_stodghill_event_flyer.pdf.
Sponsored by the Counseling Center, Missouri Partners in Prevention, UMKC Psi Chi/Psychology Club, and UMKC Student Veterans Organization. Data from 2012 Missouri College Health Behavior Survey
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