THE PAUSE PROJECT

College life can sometimes feel like a never ending windfall. Classes, deadlines, group chats, all. the. things. can lead to stress, burnout, and anxiety. The Pause Project aims to give you a moment to breathe. It’s a chill space to slow down, get creative, and just exist for a bit. Whether you’re building with LEGOs, painting, or making something with your hands, it’s all about finding your calm and connecting with people who get it.

creative outlets

Legos

RELAX & LEGO

Come for the build. Stay for the friends.
Build your calm—brick by brick. Unwind with LEGO creations, connect with new friends, and let your mind reset in a playful, creative way. The first 50 students receive a custom UNCG mini figure!

Thursday, Nov. 20, 6-8pm
Kaplan Center, MR-B

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Group of holding plants in their hands

Seed Friending

Plant kindness. Grow connections.
Make new friends while planting wildflower seeds in mini pots. Take home your plant as a reminder to nurture growth—in yourself and your community.

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Group of plushie animals

Plushies of Love

Lions, Tigers, and Teddy Bears…Oh my!
Create your own custom plushie to bring you comfort and calm. Whether you choose a bear, lion, tiger, or another animal, know that each plush is a cozy reminder to show yourself a little love.

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Painted Rocks

Color of Calm

Find your focus through color.
Paint, swirl, and splash your way to calm. Explore color as self-expression through rock painting, affirmation cards, and creative reflection.

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Supported by a UNCG Student Affairs iBelong Grant

“My anxiety has made it difficult. I want to learn how to get out there, assert myself, and make connections that will allow me to succeed later on” (HMS Survey, 2024).

Find your calm: Resources

When life starts to feel a little too loud, here are some simple tools you can use to slow things down—right from your phone, dorm, or favorite quiet corner on campus.

Slowing your breathing can help you calm down in any kind of stressful moment. Here are some simple breathing exercises you can do to relieve stress anywhere and anytime.

The Box Breath Technique

This technique is named for the 4-sided approach in which each “side” or step is the same amount of time, as if you were visually creating a box with your breath.

  1. Exhale all the air from your lungs while counting to four.
  2. Hold for a count of four, keeping your lungs completely empty.
  3. Inhale a deep, full breath for a count of four.
  4. Keep your lungs full for a count of four.
  5. Do this for at least four rounds and reduce the number of rounds if you start to feel light headed.

4-7-8 Relaxing Breath

Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Your eyes can be slightly opened or fully closed. Press the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth and open your mouth slightly. Exhale until all the air is released from your lungs.

  1. Close your mouth and inhale through your nose for 4 – 8 counts (you can work up to 8 counts as your lung capacity increases).
  2. Hold your breath for 7 counts.
  3. Exhale very slowly for 8 counts.
  4. Repeat steps 1-3 four times.

The Jed Foundation. (n.d.). How to relieve stress: Breathing exercises you can do anywhere. https://jedfoundation.org/resource/how-to-relieve-stress-breathing-exercises-you-can-do-anywhere/

Must have essential oils for college life

Relaxation & bedtime: Sleep and stress management are so important for college students’ overall health, and unfortunately both can easily be lacking during the semester. Lavender, cedarwood and chamomile can help promote relaxation and create a better sleep routine. Diffuse your favorite calming oil 30-60 minutes before bedtime or spray Fresh Floral Room Spray onto your sheets before hitting the pillow.

  • Focus: There are so many distractions in college, and it can be easy to lose focus. Vetiver is a very grounding oil that helps to set the mood for a team project or cram session before a test. Diffuse or make a roll-on to enhance concentration and focus.
  • Mental Clarity: Rosemary is an awakening oil that is perfect for long study sessions or those 8am classes. Studies have shown rosemary is particularly effective with memory recall. Diffuse 5 drops each of rosemary and bergamot while studying, then bring a roll-on of the same blend with you to test day & apply to pulse points.
  • Mood Enhancement: If you’re college is in a location with long cold winters or maybe a lot of cloudy rainy days, citrus oils can be your best friend. Oils like sweet orange and lemon can uplift your mood and provide an energy boost to keep you going all semester long. Add a few drops of Citrus Burst essential oil blend onto your morning shower floor to get the day started off right.

Aura Cacia. (n.d.). Essential oils for college. https://www.auracacia.com/blog/essential-oils-for-college

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