Acknowledging Stress, Checking In, and Taking Breaks

Stress is a normal part of college, and people need a certain amount of stress to function at a high level. However, students report that stress and anxiety difficulties have the greatest negative academic impact. We want to encourage students to manage stress before the demands become too much. Throughout the semester, you can ask students, directly or via a poll, how they are doing. You could ask the class what their top stressors are and what techniques they use to cope with stress to start a conversation. You can also model self-care by sharing with students what you do to manage stress, as well as mentioning other examples and resources. You can also emphasize the importance of prioritizing their well-being to improve resiliency when stressful situations arise.

Taking physical activity breaks or brain breaks has been shown to have a positive impact on students’ academic performance by increasing engagement (Ferrer & Laughlin, 2017). It’s simple enough to offer short breaks during class for students to stretch and refocus. These breaks can be done both in the classroom and in digital learning environments. Additionally, you could incorporate brief meditation or self-reflection activities into classes lasting more than an hour.