College hosts stress-busting days to help students relax

Students at East Sussex College recently had the opportunity to improve their wellbeing and learn a range of relaxation techniques to help them cope with their busy exam schedule.

Therapy dogs, yoga, reading, and cute animals were among the interesting things the Students’ Union team had arranged to help students relax and de-stress during April’s Stress Awareness Month.

The stress-busting days ran on Wednesday 24th April in Eastbourne, Thursday 25th April in Lewes, and Monday 29th April in Hastings and were gratefully received.

In Eastbourne and Lewes, students had the opportunity to feed five-week-old lambs and hold chickens, guinea pigs and rabbits, while the event at the Station Plaza campus in Hastings featured tree frogs, snakes, and a lesser tenrec.

Scott Bradwick, who studies at the Lewes campus, said the event had come at the best possible time after a busy start to the summer term.

Amelia Storm posted to her Instagram story that her stress was most definitely gone after spending the afternoon with pet dogs from Raystede Animal Welfare Charity and Pet Pals Therapy at the Eastbourne campus.

Gabby Pavek in Hastings said that it was “super fun and therapeutic” holding the animals from Jaws n Claws and it definitely helped her to relax.

Other activities included reading, creating glitter jars, therapeutic colouring, and a chill-out zone complete with blankets, eye masks and ear plugs. Students could also take part in Pilates and yoga, a series of gentle stretches and breathing exercises. Free fruit was also provided to promote the importance of a healthy, balanced diet.

At the event, students were asked about their biggest worries. Six jars were labelled College, Job, Health, Relationships, Money, and Current Affairs, with students asked to drop a counter in the most relevant jar. Almost a third of the students who took part labelled college as their biggest stress. This was closely followed by money worries (23%), and relationships (17%).

Sample size: 300 students took part in the survey

The event was well received at an increasingly busy time in the academic year. The activities enabled students to focus on the immediate present, taking a welcome break from their course and able to approach their studies with a renewed sense of purpose.