Three Small Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Stress, By Shane Smith

Everyone experiences stress. As a college student, you have a lot of things to juggle, whether they be work, school, pets, children, or all of the above! Combat that stress with a few simple lifestyle changes.


  
Be positive.

When you find yourself being negative about a situation or telling yourself you are going to fail the upcoming test, change up your perspective! Negative thinking can set you up for failure, making it your only expectation. Positive thinking will not only re-route your way of thinking about situations, it will make you feel less stressed about the situation.

Have a few minutes of fun.

While at times we feel we have ZERO time for fun, taking a few moments out of your day to relax is beneficial. Spending five minutes of your time to read a funny article or to throw the ball around with your dog can alleviate some of that unwanted stress while not eating up your entire afternoon. Take a few minutes out of the day for you! 

Work it out.

Sweat the stress away. Take a walk or go for a run when you begin to feel overwhelmed with your class load. By keeping a regular fitness routine, you will not only feel better physically, you may see some positive improvements mentally as well.

Using Colored Overlays for Reading, By Carla Woody

What can be the most difficult thing to read?  Most difficult is black ink on white paper under fluorescent lights, which we find in almost every classroom in America.  Why is this a problem?  The wavelengths produced by black on white can be very difficult to process, especially under bright light.  The results can include headache, eye strain, fatigue, and even seeing moved or reversed letters. 

What is one solution?  For many readers, using a colored overlay (basically a piece of plastic) can reduce the above-mentioned problems.  Originally designed for dyslexic students, we now know that using an overlay can also help ADHD readers focus on the printed page more easily.  If the reader’s eyes are less strained, he/she will remember more of what is read.  Not everyone is helped, and not everyone is helped by the same color, but a simple assessment may help the reader find relief.  Colored worksheets, notebooks with colored paper and softer lighting may also be of help.  Some students find that one color helps more with reading and another color works better for math (numerals, not word problems).

Here is a quick checklist for assessing visual difficulties:

·       Difficulty reading for prolonged periods

·       Eye strain after looking at a computer monitor for a few minutes

·       Frequent letter and/or word reversals

·       Difficulty copying, from short or long distances

·       Problems tracking from left to right

·       Frequent headaches, eye strain, or red eyes

·       Need to look away from print often

·       Problems perceiving small print

·       Difficulty keeping a place in a book

If you would like a short assessment (15-20 minutes) to see if overlays could help you, please contact Carla Woody on Monday or Wednesday between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. in room 335A to schedule an appointment.