With less than a month of classes remaining, students can reduce their stress levels by taking various measures.

Exercising at the Student Recreation Center will help students combat stress in the most effective manner, said David Onestak, director of the Counseling Center.

“I would strongly suggest it,” Onestak said. “Exercising changes the brain’s chemistry. If students take the time, it can help them focus better.”

Getting an adequate amount of sleep also is vital to enduring the stressful weeks ahead, he said. Students must refrain from procrastinating or else they may end up increasing their stress by throwing all-nighters, Onestak said.

“Procrastinating will throw off your sleep cycle,” he said. “I suggest getting seven or eight hours of sleep (per night).”

Letting work slip will increase stress tremendously, and students should discipline themselves in getting their academic work done, Onestak said. He said time management plays a large role in decreasing the level of stress.

Maintaining a proper balanced diet also will reduce stress levels, Onestak said.

“Finals week should not be Twinkies and Ho-Hos,” he said.

Cutting back on processed foods and other junk food items will aid students in keeping healthy, said Bryan Callaway, nurse practitioner for Health Services.

Callaway said reducing the intake of caffeine and alcohol also is an important factor in lowering students’ stress.

Replacing worry with action also is key, Onestak said.

“(Worrying) just makes you a more uptight and fearful person,” he said. “If you can do something about that worry, then do that.”

Students face a different type of pressure than people in everyday jobs do, Onestak said.

“(Students) are under a greater deadline pressure,” he said. “There’s no way around it.”

Onestak said he encourages students to study the material involved with classes they dislike the most first in preparation for finals.

“It is probably unpleasant, but then your mind is free of that worry,” he said.

Although there are a few weeks of classes followed by final exams and then graduation, Onestak said students should view everyday individually.

“(Students) have to break the work down day by day,” Onestak said.

Scheduling stress breaks by going out to eat with friends or just allowing some time for relaxation also is effective in coping with the few busy weeks left of classes, he said.

He said when students are out with each other, they should try to incorporate a sense of humor, he said.

“Particularly, take breaks that involve people,” Onestak said. “Go out with friends and commiserate about things at school.”

Callaway said students can prevent unwanted sicknesses that may be caused by an overload of stress by practicing good hand washing. If students feel a sickness creeping up on them, he said visiting Health Services would be a good idea.