Chill

By: Trey Curtis-Brown

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

By definition to be relaxed, stress free and in a calmed state.

With 2021 being a difficult year in all accords, finding ways to mitigate stress is key. Going into our last few weeks of the semester when students are a a peak level of stress we struggle to find ways to "CHILL". Reviewing the remainder of this page we hope to provide insightful and healthy ways to help you remain calm, relaxed and CHILL.

Music

Being one of the most powerful ways to convey emotion, music has the ability to convey Joy, happiness and relaxation.

"Listening to music can have a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies... Music can have a beneficial effect on our physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress hormones," (Collingwood)

HERE is a link to a CHILL music playlist that can be accessed on Apple Music

HERE and HERE are links to CHILL music playlist that can be accessed on Spotify

Collingwood, J. (2020). The Power of Music To Reduce Stress. Psych Central. Retrieved on November 15, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-power-of-music-to-reduce-stress/

Sleep

We all know the power of sleep. Taking "power naps" and getting a full 7-9 hours of sleep is very important to the body. There are plenty of research articles that you can reference to learn why sleep is important, but when relating it to being CHILL, The benefits from sleeping are astronomical:

Improves Concentration
Assists in mood regulation
Can re-energize the body
sharpen your judgement
REDUCE STRESS
and so much more

While this is not an exhaustive list by any means the research all points to the more of a regular sleep pattern you get the less stress and anxiety you have in both your mind and body.

I have always looked at sleep as a way to recharge the body and that's exactly what we are doing.

Attached HERE is a meditation video to help you fall asleep easier when you are trying to get ready for bed.

Massage

While this may not be the most economic tool to help manage your stress and put you in a chill state, it still has benefits. Massage can be done either in a spa or you can do it on your own/with a friend. There are many different types of massage. Some of the most drawn to are Deep Tissue, Thai, and Sweden massages as they all target different parts of the body. Getting a professional massage can help to relax the body or to have body work done, the relaxation aspect helps relax the body and put you in a tranquil state and massage that focus more on body work are a great way to manage stress and relieve tension from the body. A great location if you happen to be in Las Vegas is Lapis & Oak Spa and Salt Lounge. For manageable prices and superb body work, here you are able to get away from everyday life for an hour or more.

A major way to manage stress is by watching videos of others/animals being relaxed:

Our mission is to encourage physical activity as a scientifically validated

strategy to improve academic performance.

According to research, an active lifestyle promotes physical and mental health, reduces stress and anxiety, and can improve cognition.