4 things that help me de-stress as a busy student

Written by Christopher Chudyk, MS Accounting ’23:

Being a graduate student at UB can be stressful. Difficult classes and numerous papers and projects with tight deadlines mean that you often don’t have a lot of time for yourself. However, it’s important to take the time to de-stress from school and do things that help you relax your mind. Below are four things I do to help me relieve stress and take a break from the challenges of graduate school: 

1. Go to the gym. 

I never consistently went to the gym until I got to UB, but ever since it has become part of my everyday routine. Working out puts me in a good mood and is a very healthy way to reset your mind. Working out helps with self-confidence as well. It’s a great way to feel better about yourself and get your mind ready to be productive for the rest of your day.  

There is something peaceful about putting on your favorite music while working out and blocking out the rest of the world for a little while. Luckily, UB has a perfect location for this activity. Alumni Arena has a giant fitness center and it allows you to do any type of workout you can imagine. It opens at 6 am so you can have plenty of time to go before your classes. It is the perfect way to start or end your day and gives you a nice break from the stresses of school. 

2. Grab coffee. 

As a Master’s of Science in Accounting (MSA) student, I end up spending most of my day in Jacobs Management Center. With morning classes and  my duties as a teaching assistant for MGA 201 in the afternoon, the days can become quite long. Luckily, there is a Tim Hortons coffee shop in the Alfiero Center that connects to Jacobs. It is the perfect energy boost to get you through a long day. It’s also a great way to make sure you recharge and are sharp for your next class or activity on your schedule. I’ve spent a lot of money at that Tim Hortons over the last year, but I am not sure I would have made it this far without it.  

3. Hang out with friends. 

One of my favorite things to do during my free time is to spend time with friends. We often get together to watch sports, such as the UB Bulls or the Buffalo Bills, and it is the perfect way to take your mind off school. It is also a lot of fun to experience different restaurants around the Buffalo area. Buffalo has great food and a wide variety. I love going to Barbill for chicken wings or trying different sushi places in the area.  

There are also a lot of cool events and attractions in Buffalo throughout the year. The Buffalo Wing Fest is an awesome place to try different types of chicken wings and listen to live music. Becker Farms is a fun place to try cider, go on a hayride and interact with animals. Finding friends and taking advantage of the sights and scenes of Buffalo is a great way to de-stress. 

4. Play golf or other sports. 

The last thing I love to do to de-stress is play golf. This one is obviously weather dependent, but there are a lot of great golf courses in the Buffalo area. My favorite one is Glen Oaks Golf Club. Golf is a great way to get outside and be in nature. It also makes you think a lot and can help take your mind off whatever is stressing you out in school. If the weather isn’t cooperating, Buffalo has several indoor driving ranges that are open year-round. Even if you don’t like golf, you can replace it with any sport or activity you do like, and it will likely help you de-stress from school and put you in a great mood. 

Graduate school is challenging, but making sure you take the time to do things you enjoy is very important for your mental health and can help you avoid burnout. UB is a great place with tons of fun things available to do and everyone should go out and take advantage of them. 

BIO – Chris was born in Rochester, NY and worked as a lifeguard throughout high school. When he got to UB he decided to major in accounting. Chirs interned at Dejoy Knauf and Blood for two seasons. He also interned at EY in Rochester over the summer. At UB, he has been a TA for MGA 201 and recently accepted an offer in Assurance for EY in Boston.