Weekly Wellness Newsletter - Winter - Week 7

Winter Quarter, Week 8

With finals week steadily approaching, it’s more important than ever to take a little time for ourselves.

If you need a break from the noise and a quiet place to recharge, join Student Wellness’ Peer Health Advocates’ Quiet Together event on Feb. 23rd, 4-6 PM in the Reynolds Club, South Lounge.

It’s a device-free zone to unwind, snack, grab a fidget, or create your own craft/fidget. Bring your favorite book and a friend! 😊

We all experience stress in our daily lives, but there are steps we can take to prevent it from becoming overwhelming. Below are a few helpful tips for managing stress:

Connect with Yourself and Others:
- While talking to yourself out loud in public might feel socially questionable, positive self-talk is actually a powerful stress-management tool. Encouraging and reassuring yourself can help calm your mind and shift negative thought patterns into more balanced ones.
- In addition to connecting with yourself, make an effort to connect with others. Spend time with friends on campus, reach out to family, or consider joining a club or organization.
Take Care of Yourself and Take Breaks:
- Prioritize sleep, self-care, and a balanced diet. As students, it can be challenging to slow down and rest, but your health and overall well-being should always take priority. Taking intentional breaks can improve productivity in the long run.
Practice Breathing Exercises:
- If you’re feeling heightened stress in the moment, try sitting in a comfortable, quiet space and focus on your breathing. Inhale slowly through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Another technique is to gently cover one nostril with a finger and alternate breathing between the nostrils. Though simple, these breathing exercises can help lower anxiety and reduce your heart rate.
Listen to Music
- Whether you prefer upbeat songs or classical music, we all have a go-to playlist that helps us relax. Find a comfortable space, put on your favorite music, and let yourself sink into the music.

Dr. Benjamin has been with Student Wellness since 2001. She serves in many roles at UChicago, including Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Rehabilitation Medicine, and Pediatrics, as well as Director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Program. She has also served on a variety of boards, including the Board of Directors for the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM). As the team doctor for the UChicago Maroons, she cares for more than 500 varsity athletes.

Outside of UChicago, she serves as a team physician for the Chicago Sky of the WNBA, U.S. Soccer, and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Dr. Benjamin’s motto is “motion is lotion” and “exercise is medicine.” She also reminds students that too much stress and prolonged sitting can contribute to chronic musculoskeletal pain, which is aches in the muscles, joints, and bones. As we reflect on stress and how best to manage it, consider incorporating light exercise into your routine to help ease your mind.

Learn more about Dr. Benjamin and the Student Wellness team below!

How do you Cope With Stress?

If you’re starting to feel a bit like our friend above 😬...just know that we all feel that way sometimes, and you’re not alone. Stress is a part of life, but it's good to think about how we respond to it.

This quiz gives you insight into your stress-coping style. Each question includes its own explanations and stats, reminding you that you’re not going through stress alone. We all experience it, whether it’s studying for a test or navigating a life-changing event. It also highlights healthy ways to cope with stress and offers practical self-care tips to help you build consistent habits around caring for yourself. Paired with some cute animations, tap in to discover your coping style!

Mindfulness Practice: How We Can Target Stress

This video opens with a moment we’ve all experienced: a dramatic reaction to a stressful and embarrassing experience, but fortunately a fleeting one. From there, it breaks down the difference between healthy, normal stress and the more harmful kind that can be long-lasting and overwhelming.

They detail practical ways to manage stress, such as exercising and strengthening relationships. While it’s impossible to eliminate all stress, we can look inward and take intentional steps to improve how we respond to it and better our overall well-being.