Peer Health Education (PHE) hosted a Relaxation Night on Friday, Dec. 7, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Wedge Lounge.
PHE hosts this relaxation and de-stress event annually. However, this year, PHE changed up their annual event, according to Cierra Hessbrook, PHE’s wellness coordinator and an exercise science senior.
“As a group, we decided to change the structure of Relaxation Night for a semester,” she said. “Relaxation night this semester (was) very different than years’ past. … We have noticed that this semester has been especially busy for students, so we wanted to make the event more passive than years’ past. We are hoping that this (attracted) more students to stop by and de-stress.”
This year, PHE hosted the event by itself, although other organizations held their own relaxation events for finals week as well.
“This semester, other (organizations) are not affiliated with Relaxation Night activities,” Hessbrook said. “Throughout the week [before finals], other organizations hosted some programs to help students de-stress, despite not being involved directly in Relaxation Night.”
Hessbrook has been involved in planning Relaxation Nights since her freshman year.
“What I enjoy the most about this event is seeing the stress leave student’s faces for a couple hours while they enjoy themselves and the stress-relieving activities we have available for them,” she said.
At the Relaxation Night, students had the opportunity to come in and out as the pleased to do a variety of activities. A station was set up to make stress balls out of latex balloons and sugar. A hot chocolate bar was available with toppings, including whipped cream, sprinkles, candy canes and marshmallows. There was also a mindful coloring table compete with various adult coloring book patterns.
Hessbrook saw the event as a great way to take a break from studying and remind themselves to take a breath before finals week.
“I hope that attendees (had) the opportunity to relax before finals and understand the importance of self-care in stressful situations,” she said.
