Five Ways to Reduce Stress
Top tips to help you relax and find balance.
Juggling college with work, family, friends and life can get a little hectic sometimes. We all need a little help along the way. Be sure to take advantage of the resources we offer to help you keep the worry at bay.
Tip 1
Exercise
As a student, you automatically have free access to NIU Recreation, with facilities throughout campus. You’ll find plenty of ways to stay active:
- Lift weights, squeeze in some cardio or join a pickup game or fitness class at our Recreation Center.
- Compete against other schools in our student-run sport clubs.
- Consider joining one of our intramural sports and activities for men’s, women’s and co-recreational leagues.
Tip 2
Live Well
When you feel well, you do well! Social connection, mental health, sleep and physical health all contribute to your wellness. We offer resources to help you:
- Learn about how to be well through Well-being at NIU, and get involved in wellness activities on campus.
- Find comprehensive mental health support through our Counseling and Consultation Services.
- Connect with a nutrition coach to fuel your body and your mind.
Tip 3
Take a Break
If you need some downtime or a break from your routine, try these options:
- Hang a hammock near our lagoon (a favorite spot!) or simply find a quiet place to relax on our beautiful campus.
- Feeling more adventurous? Explore our adventure trips and unique opportunities such as kayaking, hiking and ice skating, just to name a few, through Adventures.
- Join a game of disc golf, basketball or tennis or simply relax and breathe it all in. DeKalb’s many local parks offer space to venture out, whether on foot, bike or skates.
Tip 4
Hang with Friends
Going to class is only part of the student experience. Here are some great ways to meet friends and find community:
- Visit a cultural resource center.
- Cheer on our Huskie athletes.
- Explore our hundreds of clubs and organizations.
- Get to know our fraternities and sororities.
Start with at least one and just see where it goes.
Tip 5
Play
We’re all about fun here, and there's always something going on:
- Check out our calendar of events for all sorts of exciting and educational activities.
- Into video games? Huskies play seven days a week in our esports arena, with open play computers and console gaming areas, a VR room and designated gaming PCs for our varsity teams.
- How about a game or movie night? Get together with friends in your residence hall or head to the esports arena, where you’ll find areas for tabletop games ranging from chess to Dungeons and Dragons and everything in between.
Huskie Spotlight
“I work as a peer health educator for Counseling and Consultation Services. In this role, I learn about wellness topics and work at programs and events that support student wellness on campus, such as the Procrastination Cafe and Chilling with Chase. ”Julia Rozalowski,
elementary education major
Keep Exploring
Explore all our Huskie Guides on topics that matter most to your success at NIU.