On Dec. 6, 7 and 8, the University Health Center (UHC) hosted Stress-Free Zone at the Adele Coryell Hall Learning Commons, the Nebraska Union and the Nebraska East Union. The Stress-Free Zone gave students resources to increase their well-being and de-stress before finals week.

UHC partnered with Campus Recreation services to help students physically release tension with a five-minute chair massage. At the fill-your-own lunch box station, students filled lunch boxes with healthy foods and items to de-stress, such as a mindfulness and gratitude-themed coloring book journal and Play-Doh. In addition, UHC staff were available to chat with students about different ways to maintain physical and mental health.

“We hope to help mitigate some of the negative effects of stress during finals, and help students to increase their experiences of well-being,” said Alexandra Dahl Emery, a health promotions analyst in UHC’s Health Promotion and Outreach department. “We provide students with ways to take care of themselves when experiencing stress, in hopes that they will use these coping skills throughout their lives.

UHC has offered the event for more than 15 years. To ensure all activities and services were coordinated, planning for this year's Stress-Free Zone began in August. Although finals can add to students' stress levels, students experience stress throughout the semester. For that reason, the UHC is committed to helping students reduce stress during the year as well.

“We offer stress resources all year long,” said Emery. “If you have a student experiencing stress, have them stop down to the Health Promotion and Outreach office in the basement of the UHC.”