Reducing Stress Through Exercise

University of Delaware

Memorandum

        Date:                September 15 2016

        To:                 University of Delaware Student Body

        From:                Trup Ortlieb

        Subject:        Reducing Stress Through Exercise

Given that college students face a significant amount of stress in their daily lives, and that exercise combats stress, an exercise program that is focused on alleviating stress would be extremely successful on a college campus. The demand for success, competition in the classroom, and relationships are all common sources of stress.

The truth about college is that the only person to blame for not accomplishing any task is yourself. Through the eyes of a college student, stress seems to be unavoidable. These issues include academic demands, lack of time, and task management (“Perceived Stress”). According to a study done by Harvard Reviews of Health, “About 85% of college students said they felt stressed in recent months. About 42% had felt down, depressed or hopeless several days in the last two weeks” (“Poll Finds Stress”). These numbers clearly show the lack of interest universities put forth in helping students find pleasure within themselves and everything around them.

Here at the University of Delaware, we are driven to helping individuals excel. We want to help students find the balance between challenging and overworking yourself. Physical activity has always been a crucial element to healthy lifestyle. “Epidemiological studies have shown that physical activity protects against premature mortality and on average, physically active people live longer than those who are sedentary”( Kamarudin & Mohd).  As a UD student you have access to the Little Bob, which includes a weight room, basketball courts, and even state of the art yoga rooms.  Although it may be easy to say that you are going to be more active, studies show that perceived barrier inhibit a person’s motivation to work out.  These studies suggest that schoolwork, other interest, and family activities are the main proponents that distract people from working out (Kamarudin & Mohd).