The tensions, stress and anxiety are beginning to rise. Luckily, the Kathryn A. Martin Library and a host of partners are offering a full week of stress reduction activities to our student community. Tea, snacks, games, crafts, button making, yoga, knitting and much more await you! Stress-less Week Fall 2018 starts on Sunday, December 2 at 2:00 p.m. with our kickoff event in the library, and concludes on Friday, December 7.
Stay tuned for updates at z.umn.edu/stressless. Our up-to-date schedule follows:
Sunday, December 2 - Throughout the Library, 2-8 p.m.
- Free hot cocoa, tea, and coffee available in the library entrance. We'll have candy and snacks too!
- A stress-reduction area is opened on Sunday and will remain in place until the last day of Finals. This zone features puzzles, coloring, legos, origami, and our ever popular cute animal videos! You can write or take a message from the inspirational quote boards. We also have created a “Goals set/Goals met” wall. Tell us your plan and then enact it.
- Register for kickoff door prizes. Winners are drawn on the hour until 8 p.m.
- The “Guess the # of little tiny things” Contest returns! We’ve filled a jar with some hard to count materials, and we want your best guess/mathematical approximation! A special door prize is available to the closest guesstimate. Library staff will tabulate the guesses on Friday, December 7 and inform the winner via email.
- Plant Sweepstakes! Did you know that house plants can have a therapeutic effect on living spaces and attitudes? Thanks to the UMD Greenhouse and our Student Engagement Assistant Lizzie Easter, we have been growing cuttings of houseplants since August. Sign up for our drawing and you could win one of your very own! Prize drawing on Friday at 10 a.m. Winners will be notified via email.
Monday December 3
- Free coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate handed out by your friendly neighborhood librarians. We will be pouring until it is all gone! 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Library Entrance.
- Stress-ball Make & Take: Sit down and make your own stress-reducing device, or take one of our pre-made ones! 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Library Lobby, First Floor.
- CALM sessions - Free relaxation, meditation, breathing, or yoga sessions in the library. Snacks and tea provided for attendees. Take a break and find your calm. 12 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., L119
Tuesday December 4
- Free coffee, tea and cocoa (and maybe some chocolate!) handed out by wonderful academic advisers from CEHSP, CLA, LSBE, SCSE, and SFA. They will be pouring cups and refills for all takers until the urns are dry! 7:30 to 10 a.m., Library Entrance
- PAWS - Pet Away Worry and Stress returns to Kirby Student Lounge. Take a break with your pupper, doggo, floof, hedgehog, or maybe a mini-horse! 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Kirby Student Center Lounge
- Zoomobile - The Lake Superior Zoo brings its traveling menagerie of exotic and common animals. We could be visited by a tortoise, chinchilla, rabbit, ferret, or even a chicken. It’s one of our favorite events and it will soon be yours! 1 to 3 p.m., Library Lobby, First Floor
- Knit-Wits! This student group offers healthy stress relief in an open and welcoming environment where strong, lasting friendships can be made. Drop in for some fiber arts and conversation. You might walk away with an awesome door prize! 7 to 8:30 p.m., RDC 335
- Bulldog Yoga Club hosts their Tuesday night yoga session. Join in to stretch, engage your body and relax. The library will be providing one lucky attendee with a door prize. 5 p.m. SPHC 135
Wednesday December 5
- Free coffee, tea and cocoa (and maybe some chocolate!) handed out by friendly librarians and academic advisers from CEHSP, CLA, LSBE, SCSE, and SFA! 7:30 to 10 a.m., Library Entrance
- CALM session! Take a moment to center yourself with meditation, restful breathing, and guided imagery in the library. 12 to 12:50 p.m., Library 119
- Button making! Create your own buttons, or use some of our pre-printed designs. (Due to popularity, students are limited to three buttons at a time. Don’t fret, though. You can make your three three then restart at the back of the line!) 1 to 3:30 p.m., Library First Floor
Thursday December 6
- Free coffee, tea, and cocoa handed out by friendly academic advisers from CEHSP, CLA, LSBE, SCSE, and SFA! Say hi and get some liquid nourishment. 7:30 to 10 a.m., Library Entrance
- Smoothies! Health Services and library staff team up to make a lot of smoothies. Fruit, juice, greens, all blended to perfection and served in 4 oz energy shots! Dairy free/vegan available. Last year we handed out 350 smoothies in an hour. How many can we give out this fall? 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (while supplies last), Library Entrance
- Button making! Create your own buttons, or use some of our pre-printed designs. (Due to popularity, students are limited to three buttons at a time. Stamp out three then start at the back of the line!) 2 to 4:30 p.m., Library First Floor
S.H.E. Bingo: Take a break from studying to refresh with a game or two of bingo! Have fun, win prizes, and learn about sexual health, too! Facilitated by UMD Health Services Sexual Health Educators! (We heard rumors about free pizza!) 6 p.m., L115
Friday December 7
- Free coffee, tea, and cocoa handed out by our friendly library staffers. Fill up your cup, or take a mug to go. Supplies are limited so get here early. 7:30 to 10 a.m., Library Entrance
- Plant Sweepstakes: Trusted library staffers pull names from the ballot boxes. Then we email some lucky students who now own their own house plants! Winners can pick their prize at the Library Circulation Desk. First come, first choice. Starting at 10 a.m., Library Circulation Desk
- “Guess the number of tiny little things” - We start tabulating guess for the # of items - lucky winner will be determined and contacted! Starting at 10 a.m., Library Circulation Desk
Sponsors and partners
Stress-less Week Fall 2018 couldn’t happen without the contributions of UMD Library Staff, including our Student Engagement Assistants Carly Johnson and Lizzie Easter. We are also indebted to our sponsors, including but not limited too:
- Kirby Student Center for reasons
- Kirby Program Board who provides funding for cocoa, coffee and snacks
- UMD Facilities Events Management for sharing tables and chairs for our activities
- Pet Away Worry Stress through the sponsorship of Animal Allies, KUMD, Health Services, UMD Department of Psychology (via Keith Young) and Kirby Student Center
- CALM provided by staff of Disability Resources & Health Services
- Applied Human Sciences & Exercise Science Club for providing “deskercise” handouts
- Knit Wits graciously shares their meeting time and welcomes all students to join them
- Greek Life for volunteering to create hundreds of stress balls
- Student Services Fee Committee who provide funding for crafts, games and snacks
- Sexual Health Educators for hosting Bingo
- Career & Internship Services for tabling and sharing resources for employment, resume development and more
- UMD Greenhouse for offering growing space and plant cuttings
- Bulldog Yoga Club offering their open sessions on Tuesdays evenings
- Coffee distribution by the Academic Advising Offices of CEHSP, CLA, LSBE, SCSE, and SFA
- Smoothies sponsored by Health Services, and Wellness Resources
Questions about Stress-less Week? Contact Adam Brisk at 218-726-6603, [email protected], or visit him in Library 268.