Tackle Stress Before it Brings You Down

Take advantage of on-campus resources and know when to ask for help.

All university students experience some level of stress, but additional pressures from family and career can compound the stress felt by graduate students.

It is important to develop strategies to manage that stress in a healthy and productive way, to guard against burnout, and to learn to recognize when you need to ask for help.

Fortunately for graduate students at Thompson Rivers University, there are many on-campus resources available to help you manage your stress, including free weekly meditation and relaxation classes, and even St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs:

Unwind with a belly rub?
Whether you’re feeling lonely and far from home, or you just need a moment to decompress and reorganize your thoughts, the TRU Therapy Dogs are an ideal solution. The dogs and their human volunteers from St. John Ambulance are on campus weekly. Research has shown canine therapy can help reduce blood pressure, and can also help relieve depression and anxiety.

Improve your time management skills:
Free time, for many graduate students, is a laughable concept. If you are juggling your studies with a career and with the demands of a family, developing time management strategies at the outset of your program is essential; thankfully, TRU Counselling Services offer regular time management workshops.

Eat well, and get regular exercise:
While we know exercise helps prevent physical injuries and assists in weight loss, staying physically active has also been linked to improved academic performance. Several local fitness studios offer reduced student rates, and, with their UPASS, TRU students get free access to the nearby Canada Games Aquatic Centre. There are also free weekday fitness classes offered by the TRU Recreation Department.