How to Remain Stress-Free Every Quarter

There are tons of ways to describe a UCLA Transfer Student. Some would say motivated, determined, hard-working, diverse, and much more. Transfer students are layered. How else would they be able to achieve stellar grades, get involved, conduct research, network, have a social life, and be job-ready by graduation? Nonetheless, a side effect of these things that makes up a transfer student successful is stress. With the quarter system, time seems to stretch and become stringy day by day. Sometimes days seem to blend with night. Night Powell becomes a repetitive thing. Truth is, being a transfer student is overwhelming, but there are different ways to unpack the stress that comes with the expedited two years at UCLA. With UCLA’s abundant resources and prime location in West Los Angeles, there are endless activities to do to remain stress free.

For the Urban Explorer

Santa Monica has a lot to offer. Santa Monica’s iconic pier offers a classic arcade, for your inner child, and take a ride on Pacific Park’s roller coaster or Ferris wheel. Down the street, Third Street Promenade can provide a positive distraction for any stressed out student with its restaurants and street performers.

Venice offers a scene similar to Santa Monica. It has an edgier feel. There’s the Venice skate park, muscle beach, and the boardwalk, which are all thrilling for a student urbanite. For a more mellow vibe, visiting the Venice canals can offer a more tranquil alternative to the busyness of other parts of the area.

For the Outdoor Adventurers

Believe it or not, the Greater Los Angeles area is home to beautiful outdoor locations. For hiking enthusiast, the Los Angeles National Forest offers several hiking trails, many which lead to viewpoints, waterfalls, or peaks. With a quick Google search, you will find trailheads that lead to Trail Canyon Falls, Hermit Falls, Switzer Falls, and Monrovia Falls. Looking for a more challenging hike? Hiking to the Peak of Mount Wilson demands a long, but mind-clearing, fourteen mile round-trip.

For something closer to campus, the Santa Monica Mountains posses hikes that boast views of the ocean. Hike trailheads can be accessed via Uber or Lyft for students that don’t have a car while at campus. Most trails are minutes away from Pacific Coast Highway. To find specific trails, apps like “AllTrails” can show you hiking spots in the area. Most trails are considered hidden gems, since many students may be unaware they exist.

For the Homebody

For those that are unable to travel off-campus, or who would rather just stay near UCLA, there are tons of ways to de-stress. The UCLA Transfer Student Center holds a “De-stress Study Fest” week ten of every quarter. They offer care packages that include snacks, toothpaste, toothbrushes, face masks, and other goodies. The center hosts events that are geared to letting students relax. In the past, they’ve hosted massages and therapy dogs. For a schedule of their offerings this quarter, check the UCLA Transfer Center Facebook page.

If you’re in need of psychological or emotional support, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers counseling. Professional therapists are there to offer help in any way they can. CAPS also offers coping, and wellness skill groups that can help with a variety of circumstances. You can visit their website for more information.

Another great stress outlet is to make use of the gym located inside of the John Wooden Center for some weight lifting, racquetball or even rock climbing. The John Wooden Center is the hub for all things fitness. It hosts a variety of fitnesses classes such as, self-defense, yoga, dance classes and much more. You can find a schedule by asking the John Wooden Center front desk. If you’re more of a cardio person, Drake Stadium is usually open throughout the day for runners.

The Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center offers massage therapy and acupuncture for a small fee. Trying either of these two things is well worth the price, considering that spas and clinics off-campus charge a fortune.

A final thing to mention is that, no matter where you are, meditation or a moment of pause is the most readily-available thing for anyone to do. A quick search of mediation on your phone’s app store will offer different free meditation apps. Mediations can last from five minutes to as long as thirty minutes, but regardless of the time dedicated, meditating is worth it. So, try it out! Some meditation apps include Headspace, Calm, and Mindfulness.

Taking some time out of your week to enjoy these things may seem like a sacrifice, but Transfer Students need time to relax and not think because relieving stress is a necessity. The daily routine at UCLA is already taxing on the mind, so dedicating some time for enjoyment and relaxation can make all the difference in your college experience.