Most new students discover that the last two weeks of the semester are extremely intense with papers to complete and preparation for final exams. Hence, they need to study more. At the same time as some of the nicest spring days and end-of-the-year academic celebrations, they often have difficulty concentrating. To help yourself concentrate:

• Find a study space that you use only for studying. Ideally, the space is in a quiet, distraction-free location.

• Create a list of everything you need to get finished before the end of the semester and break your work into smaller chunks that can be accomplished in individual study sessions.

• Establish a study goal for each session. Make sure the goal is reasonable and can be accomplished in the time you allotted. Make your goals precise (for example, review chapters 1 through 3, complete my lab report, prepare a first draft of my short history paper... ).

• Avoid daydreaming by reminding yourself of the goal for the study session and reward yourself for achieving the goal.

• Take a study break when you complete the goal. Take your breaks in a different location and do something active.

Stress is the "wear and tear" we experience on our mind and body. As college students you experience stress in areas such as meeting academic demands, adjusting to a new living environment, or developing friendships. The stress we experience in life is not always harmful. Mild forms of stress can act as a motivator and energizer. Contrary to what most people believe, external events that occur in our lives are largely not the cause of the stress we experience. Rather, it is the way in which we interpret and react to events that make them stressful.

The first step to managing stress is to recognize the signs and symptoms when your stress levels are high. A good way to do this is to start keeping a log of your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and physiological state when experiencing stress. When you have increased your awareness of your stress response you will be more able to reduce your stress.

Here are some tips to reduce your stress levels.

• Begin challenging self-defeating beliefs that create negative stress (i.e., I MUST be great at whatever I try, It's AWFUL when things don't go my way, or If I don't live up to my or others' expectations I'm WORTHLESS).

• Utilize relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or yoga.

• Recognize and accept your limits.

• Take care of your body through healthy eating, exercising, and getting enough sleep.

• Develop a strong support network-surround yourself with people who care about you and will listen when you need to share your feelings.

• Don't take thinks so seriously--maintain your sense of humor, including the ability to laugh at yourself.

• Say "NO!" Set boundaries so you are not taking on too many obligation in your life.

• Find something that gives you purpose. Studies show that people who report having something that gives their life purpose tend to cope better with life's stressors.

If you attempt the above suggestions and are still having difficulty managing your stress, seek assistance through one of the following University resources: 

University Counseling Services (http://ucs.truman.edu), 202 E. Patterson St. 660-785-4014 or Student Health Services (http://studenthealth.truman.edu) McKinney Center, 660-785-4182.

Are you looking for a place where you might relieve some stress by hiking, fishing, canoeing, or boating? If so, check out Thousand Hills State Park. The park's central feature is Forest Lake. The park also offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including swimming, fishing, boating, hiking, mountain bicycling, and nature study. To learn more about the Park, check out http://www.mostateparks.com/thousandhills.htm.

Quote of the Week

"I think that liberal education -- rightly understood -- encompasses cognitive, moral, and emotional education. And it is only if liberal education is misunderstood that one can exclude the moral and emotional components. So, if liberal education is to be identified with amoral cognitive skills ... what kind of a person emerges from this kind of education? My quick answer is: a sophist. A sophist is a person who is skilled at influencing audiences and winning arguments. He is, in other words, skilled in survival in a social context. Plato, by contrast, wanted to educate philosophers, who can be characterized as moral dialecticians, that is to say, people who have a training in dialectical (cognitive skills) and use them for advancing morality in an emotionally controlled manner. Liberal education is not about making explosives -- it is about such matters as agreeing as to when -- if ever -- explosives should be used and for what purposes."

--Andrew Chrucky, "The Aim of Education"

The complete text is available at http://www.ditext.com/chrucky/aim.html.