Surf your Stress Week '24

Start your day - and the Surf your Stress week - by enjoying a delicious FREE breakfast and dance to the beat! Get energized for the day to come. Team up with your friends, or housemates and enjoy the LIVE DJ-set from MiniCulture.

KSV Fransicus Xaverius opens their doors for Surf your Stress and all WUR Students at Stadsbrink 373 this morning.

You have enrolled at Wageningen University to become an expert on climate, biodiversity, ecosystem health etc. Passionate to make a difference, your increasing knowledge may also lead to a growing concern about the future of our planet. You know what steps need to be taken, but at the same time the scale of the challenge is overwhelming.

Take action within your reach - Student psychologist Roeland Cloin will explain the Circle of Influence - things we can control or change - and the Circle of Concern - things we worry about but can't control - (Steven Covey). This workshop will empower you to shift focus from anxiety to taking actionable steps within your reach. Together we will put the model into practice and we will discuss our experiences and insights.

What will you learn?

• Gain clarity on actions you can take in your daily life.
• Empower Yourself: Develop the skills to influence positive change within your community.
• Build Resilience: Learn how to cope with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

Craft your own free stressball between your morning and afternoon classes! It's simple, and friendly helpers are available to guide you through the process. An enjoyable DIY break to unwind and have fun. D.I.Y. Stressball Workshop + free lunch

You're almost there – graduation is just around the corner! Congratulations!
But what's next? Finding a job can be smooth sailing for some and a bit of a challenge for others.

In this workshop, we'll tackle those nervous thoughts that might be bothering some of you as you embark on your job hunt. You'll learn how to embrace your anxiety and pick up some handy tips to kickstart your job search with more confidence and ease.

Let’s explore the concept of our Inner Sustainability.

While many of us are deeply engaged in the study and pursuit of various sustainability topics, we may sometimes overlook our own well-being in the process. Recognisable?

What is Inner Sustainability? -

Well, that’s exactly what we want to discuss in this workshop. We warmly invite everyone to join us in sharing their thoughts through the medium of words. In a creative and supportive space, you’ll have the freedom to either share pre-written poems with fellow participants or take part in a guided poetry-writing workshop to craft your own.

Kristina from the Green Office Wageningen will share her enthusiastic and creative guidance for your poetry writing journey. If you prefer to simply come and listen, that’s perfectly fine too. Everyone is invited to contribute, write, listen, and find inspiration together. Your presence is warmly encouraged. Come, share, write, listen, and let inspiration flow.

Join us for Now & Then a storytelling night spanning the ages as storytellers from around the globe revisit their past to understand their present, all while sharing true stories from their lives and a few laughs along the way.

MC Emma Holmes and five incredible storytellers will regale you with tales about the best and worst of times as we delve into the murky yet amusing underworld of everything that makes us human.

Join our daily mindfulness meditation. Recharge and restart with new focus and enthusiasm! The workshops will be led by qualified instructors of Spectrum (Student Platform & Chaplaincy). 

Your study schedule is brutal; so much to do, so little time. And then you have your club nights, house dinners, sports clubs, social life and so on. That’s bound to stress you out, doesn’t it?

One of the causes of stress, is not knowing exactly what you need to do and how you can accomplish all your tasks in time. If you’re not a naturally organised person, this can lead to confusion, overwhelm and missed deadlines.

Take control of your life - This workshop offers hands-on guidelines to those of you who do not tend to be so well-structured yet. Together we will work on becoming (a bit) more organised step by step. It takes some time investment, but it will pay off many more hours than you put into it. And even better: it will put you in the driver’s seat of your life, making your life a lot easier 😃.

Life is simple! Just do the right things, have the right mindset, make the right choices and happiness and success will come your way. - Or -* Take these FIVE steps to live a balanced life. * Discover TEN tips to a stress-free life.The choice is yours. But..., does it really work that way?

Know when to let go - In this interactive workshop we take a closer look at our expectations of ourselves and of life in general. High expectations can be motivating, but they can also lead to anxiety, disappointment, peer pressure and feelings of inadequacy.

How can we develop a more relaxed perspective on life, where we still have expectations (who can live without them?), but learn to recognise when its’s time to let go? This workshop will give you insights and practical ideas on how to increase your mental resilience.

Do you face obstacles in your studies or student life due to AD(H)D, ASS for example? Are you struggling to relate to your peers? Or is something else -temporary or chronic - preventing you from fully enjoying your student life? If so, please feel free to join us and share what you feel. Feel empowered by recognition and learn from the experiences of others. You are not alone! Or to speak with our participants: "Finally a place where I can meet people I don't have to explain myself to" and “A neurospicy group that doesn’t drain my social battery”.

Sports psychologist Rico Schuijers reveals how to apply the strategies of Olympic champions to your study routine.

Studying at university and competing in top-level sports may seem very different on the surface, but they have a lot in common. Think about performing under pressure, dealing with setbacks, distractions and fatigue, and giving your best when it counts.

Explore the approach of top athletes - Join us for an insightful talk that explores the approach of top athletes and how their strategies can enhance your studies. Discover the motivation, concentration and self-confidence that set these sportspeople apart from the rest. Learn how to adapt their strategies your study routine. From goal setting to time management, mental toughness to resilience, this presentation will equip you with the tools you need to succeed academically.

Does the mere mention of the word ‘thesis’ fill you with worry and anxiety? Are you apprehensive about taking that first step? There’s no need for it to be that way. While thesis-related stress and anxiety are common, rest assured that there are effective tools and techniques that can make your thesis-writing journey more manageable.

Reverse your negative thought patterns - This workshop combines both theory and practical solutions. We’ll discover how stress affects our physiology, how our thoughts shape our reality, and most importantly, how to reverse those negative thought patterns. Additionally, you will receive a range of practical exercises that you can apply independently to alleviate your thesis-related anxiety and stress.

Join our daily mindfulness meditation. Recharge and restart with new focus and enthusiasm! The workshops will be led by qualified instructors of Spectrum (Student Platform & Chaplaincy). 

Steps Aerobics is an intensive workout in which music and choreography play an important role. The choreography is adapted to the level of the participants. A workout contains the elements of endurance, flexibility, balance, speed and strength.

Perfectionism, often celebrated as a desirable –bad- trait in our society, may not always lead to the happiness we seek. Is it truly justifiable, or does it, in fact, contribute to increased insecurity and stress? Chantal van der Leest, a psychologist, author, and a former perfectionist herself, intimately understands the potential pitfalls of this mindset.

Healthy or unhealthy perfectionism? - In this engaging session, you will gain insights, infused with a touch of humor and self-deprecation, into distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy perfectionism. Furthermore, you will acquire practical tools to effectively manage and navigate your own perfectionist tendencies.

What's your relationship with stress like? Has it become an integral part of your life? Do you attribute it to uni, politics or other people? And, more importantly, how have you been managing your stress recently? Are you interested in uncovering its causes and learning effective ways to handle it? Join us for this engaging workshop to find out more.

Develop psychological flexibility - Stress is a hot topic, especially among students. Performance pressure, demanding study schedules, student loans, and the influence of social media are often cited as common stressors. It might seem like these factors are entirely beyond your control. But is that really the case? Could your own habits, behaviours and beliefs also be playing a role too? If so, that's actually good news; it means you have the power to make a change!

In this workshop, psychologist André Rozendaal will challenge you to dive into your personal relationship with stress. He will hand you tips and tools on how to manage your stress and how to develop more psychological flexibility.

Ever been in those moments when you've poured your heart and soul into a project, only to see it unravel before your eyes? How to deal with things not going your way? In other words, HOW to celebrate failure?

Failure is a vital part of the journey - Fret not! StartHub x SurfyourStress has gathered a diverse group of speakers, from startup visionaries to esteemed teaching staff, to your fellow students, and invited them to share their stories. They will dive in on their past experiences, proving that failure is not a dead end, but a vital part of the journey, and allow you to share yours (if you dare 😉).

Join us in our celebratory event, where failure becomes a mere ripple on the path to triumph! 🏄‍♀️🌊 (and - hooray - there are free drinks to add to the celebration!).

Speakers

Jente Ottenburghs - Lecturer at the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation (WEC) group and the Forest Ecology and Forest Management (FEM) group

Mariana Santos Silva is the CEO and co-founder of PlantWizzard & Knuswear.

Noor Holleman is a member of the Student Council for VeSte. She studies Communication and Life Sciences.

Work up a sweat during an indoor biking class while listening to an immersive lecture by Anneke Valk about your 'inner voice'. Do you have this little ‘voice’ inside your head? Sometimes it happily chats along (“Oh, look, a puppy!”), sometimes it relentlessly shares its opinion, whether you like it or not. That voice can get you pretty nervous. Or uncertain about yourself. In any case, it may well be a good idea to get to know that inner voice a little bit better. Curious?

Move your Body - Flex your Mind - Join this special edition of the Monkey Mind workshop, spiced with music and good vibes. How? You will be riding an indoor bike, whilst diving into this theory. The beauty of it? When you move your body, it is much easier to move your mind as well. So join in, get to know the Monkey Moods of your Mind, and discover effective strategies to reduce stress or tweak your daily habits.

In this class, mindfulness is seamlessly united with yoga. In physical exercises, movement is connected with breath, attention and relaxation. There are moments of silence and reflection and we work with great concentration. You learn to observe and accept what is happening inside you. The exercises increase the awareness of the body and related areas of tension.

Within mindful yoga, compassion is important. How do you deal with difficulties and setbacks? For example, when you can continue to smile and breathe in a difficult position, this gives confidence and relaxation in your entire system. By being soft, you become stronger.

Join our daily mindfulness meditation. Recharge and restart with new focus and enthusiasm! The workshops will be led by qualified instructors of Spectrum (Student Platform & Chaplaincy).

This event starts with an informative lecture by Florine Kremer. We all know it; the intention-behaviour (or think-do) gap. You want to eat healthier, drink less (alcohol, not water) excersise more and you know very well how to do it. But why is it so hard to put our good intentions to practice? And what is the influence of stress on the food choices we make?

After a short break SV Apollo and Nicolas Appèrt offer a practical workshop and a free lunch. Are you feeling stressed and looking for a new hobby to cope with it? Look no further; this workshop will help you get started. Learn how to change your habits in an easy, sustainable time- and cost-effective way. It's the perfect way to de-stress during this busy season!.

Money makes you happy, right? It’s a common saying, but is it really true? Contrary to what you may believe, happiness does not increase proportionally to the size of your bank account. An empty wallet, on the other hand, can be a cause of distress. ’Many students are well aware of the reality of financial stress. In fact, as a student, balancing your financial affairs alongside your academic workload and social life can be quite demanding. Do you want to feel more in charge of your finances?

What is your ‘financial attitude’? - Moneyways is a fun interactive game about money & student life. Each player steps in the shoes of a student with their own unique perspective on money. You will be faced with various choices at a price, but in return, you will receive ‘knowledge’ and/or ‘pleasure’ points. There is no right or wrong, just experience where the game takes you.

After the game, players and game-leader will discuss the choices they made. This will give you valuable insights into the consequences of your financial attitude and behavior. Join us on a playful exploration.

Students today – you guys - represent the first generation that has grown up in a world dominated by ubiquitous smartphones and social media platforms. On the one hand, it has given us all tremendous freedom of expression, with access to knowledge, media, and communities that previous generations lacked.

At the same time, stress and anxiety levels are at a historic high, especially among young people. As much as we complain about our collective addiction to these technological innovations, only very few of us take action and turn their backs on these practices.

Social media and our well-being
In this lecture, Dan Hassler-Forest will contextualize these sweeping changes. How did our media landscape change from mainstream broadcast media to the algorithmically driven media that dominate social media platforms? How does social media influence our mental well-being? And how can we balance the benefits and drawbacks of social media in our lives? After the presentation there will be time for dialogue about the subject.

Some days you feel amazing, thrilled, happy to connect to other people. Then two weeks later even the smallest event can cause tears or distress. These “highs and lows” are no fantasy. This is your body cycling through the different phases of your menstrual cycle. And guys, do read on if you are in the half of the population that doesn’t menstruate: you want to know this.

Superpowers & Pitfalls -Did you know that women cycle through different ‘seasons’ every month? They all have their own superpowers and pitfalls. Some days provide you with tremendous energy and gracefulness. Other days your hormones will nudge you to reflect, ponder, and sort out which things you can let go of. In this workshop,

Anneke Valk explains the characteristics and signals you can trace. This is super relevant for anyone, of any gender. Anneke’s energy will likely surprise and captivate you. After just 1,5 hours, you’ll understand so much more of the power of the Natural Cycle.

Does the mere mention of the word ‘thesis’ fill you with worry and anxiety? Are you apprehensive about taking that first step? There’s no need for it to be that way. While thesis-related stress and anxiety are common, rest assured that there are effective tools and techniques that can make your thesis-writing journey more manageable.

Reverse your negative thought patterns - This workshop combines both theory and practical solutions. We’ll discover how stress affects our physiology, how our thoughts shape our reality, and most importantly, how to reverse those negative thought patterns. Additionally, you will receive a range of practical exercises that you can apply independently to alleviate your thesis-related anxiety and stress.

Join our daily mindfulness meditation. Recharge and restart with new focus and enthusiasm! The workshops will be led by qualified instructors of Spectrum (Student Platform & Chaplaincy).

Zumba combines cardio & muscle exercise with Latin American dance steps derived from merengue, salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, hip hop, mambo, rumba, flamenco, calypso, samba and axé.

The training targets areas such as the buttocks, legs, arms, abs and heart. The Zumba program was created by dancer and choreographer Beto Perez from Miami. The punchline of Zumba is training with pleasure, as the Zumba slogan says: "Ditch the workout, join the party". Bring water, towel(s), comfortable sportswear, indoor sports shoes, and of course a good mood!

Colour is a dynamic source of radiant energy that ripples in waves. Are you still with us? Well, the important thing is; colour has the remarkable ability to evoke emotions and that is what we will experience in this workshop.

Blue for tranquility, yellow to uplift the mood - Blue, for instance, can promote a sense of tranquility, while purple invokes a soothing calmness that helps alleviate stress. Additionally, yellow, as its complementary counterpart, can counteract stress and uplift your mood. Artists are well aware of the interplay of colors. They seek balance, intensity, and expression in their work.

That being said, even if you haven’t picked up a paintbrush in years (if ever), this workshop is for you. Whether you want to express your emotions, reveal your inner world, or simply add a splash of color, it will be both enriching and fun.