Of course final exams are not the only thing stressing us out right now, right? But they must be done — and they’ll be done soon. In the meantime, the first ever all virtual DeStress Fest is taking place for students online in Blackboard, under the SRSU Orientation for Online Students organization. All students were automatically enrolled in that Blackboard organization following spring break.

Here’s how to access it: 

  1. Navigate to Sul Ross Blackboard, sulross.blackboard.com
  2. Log in with your LoboID and pw (as usual)
  3. Scroll to My Organizations
  4. Click into SRSU Orientation for Online Students
  5. Look at the lefthand navigation menu and scroll to DeStress Fest

There, we have been holding tutoring hosted by Mabel Garcia from the Academic Support Center, and have hosted special sessions featuring Antuan Washington, Director of Recreational Programs, and Becky Wren, Director of Counseling and Accessibility Services. It is wonderful that so many staff want to see Lobos succeed and we thank them for their time and enthusiasm!

Because de-stressing is for everyone, see below for some of the resources we shared with SRSU students:

The Counseling and Accessibility Office provides a supportive environment that helps facilitate positive change and promote mental health and emotional well-being.
The office is staffed with licensed professional counselors who provide confidential services at no cost to Sul Ross students, staff, and faculty.
Services include:
    • Brief, short-term individual and group counseling
    • Workshops, presentations, and other activities promoting mental health
    • A comprehensive referral network to off-campus providers
    • Accommodation letters
To make an appointment regarding counseling or disability accommodations, please call 432-837-8203.
For more information on accessibility services, visit this page.

Have fun with this online coloring of Mandala. You can also save your picture and share with your friends or print a blank coloring and create your picture of Mandala with your own coloring box. All colorings are free!

Pop variations of bubble wrap. Sound on! Very satisfying. Scratch is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is provided free of charge.

ASMR is the term for the sensation people get when they watch stimulating videos or take part in other activities — usually ones that involve personal attention. Many people describe the feeling as “tingles” that run through the back of someone’s head and spine. Others say the feeling is deeply relaxing, and can even cause them to fall asleep.

Here is a six-step, six-second relaxation technique that can temporarily bring your stress level down; if you use the technique throughout the day, it can help lower your baseline stress level. Steps 2 through 5 each can induce relaxation on their own; together they do so more effectively. Read through each of the steps before you give this exercise a try; some steps may require practice. Some people find that their sense of relaxation is enhanced by closing their eyes when using the technique. Once you’ve mastered the steps, try them both ways to see whether having your eyes open or closed works better for you.