 Understanding What Causes Stress
The first stage in preventing
and lowering your own levels of stress is recognizing what stress
is and what the major causes of stress are.
How is Stress Affecting YOU?
How stressed out are YOU?
Let's take a look into what may
be causing your stress levels to
be where they currently are.
Develop a Stress-Relief
Action Plan
Here are some tips for staying
healthy throughout the year on campus and more.
YOUR Stress Relief PLAN : Managing Daily Habits
Knowing how to manage stress
on a day-to-day basis can be just
as tough as dealing with the
stress itself. Here is a guide to
help you along the way.
Stress Relief Products
In addition to a regular stress management program, there
are many tools available to
assist you on your path to a
stress-free lifestyle. 
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Walk Confidently and Carry a Big Stick
 earching for another way to maximize your daily walk? Add trekking poles (also called walking poles) to your workout. Swinging the poles on your walk offers surprising benefits including
 reducing knee pain
reducing stress on the knees and providing increased stability during downhill walking
working your back, arm and abdominal muscles
increasing the number of calories you burn during a walk
building upper body stamina
elevating your heart rate
keeping you in a better overall mood
No one's quite sure just why the poles are mood elevators. It may be because working your arms as well as your legs releases more endorphins (a group of substances in the body that relieves pain, controls your body's response to stress and determines mood) or other chemicals in the brain than walking without them. Or maybe it's just fun to have a variation to usual walking.
Adding the poles can be pretty taxing, so gradually increase the time you use them. For example, if you regularly walk 30 minutes, start by using the poles for just five of those minutes the first week. Add five more minutes each week until you're walking all 30 minutes with the poles. Use two poles at a time -- one in each hand. Doing so supports each knee.
Shop for trekking poles at sporting goods or outdoor stores. The poles come with aluminum or carbon fiber shafts and sport features such as grips, adjustable height, straps and shock absorption systems. Choose what's most comfortable for you.
NOTE: People with upper-extremity injuries such as carpal tunnel, tennis elbow or shoulder joint problems shouldn't use walking poles.
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