Fun as a remedy for stress

One of the University Welfare policies focuses on improving the quality of life for the university community. To this end, this area contributes to human development and holistic education through recreational, promotional, and preventative activities, such as this one, which they called "La Playita de la UCundinamarca" (The Little Beach of UCundinamarca). The event took place yesterday, May 3rd, at the Facatativá campus and drew a large crowd.

The idea arose as a way to address the high levels of stress at the extension campus. “The students are finishing a week of midterms, which generates a lot of anxiety for them, so we decided to do it,” explains María Alejandra Bonilla, university well-being coordinator at the Facatativá extension campus.

Thus, the 458 attendees, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., participated in a series of recreational, educational, and fun activities that led them to reflect on the health of their lifestyles. “We did sensory stimulation with sand, music therapy, and provided guidance on healthy eating; that's why we gave them apples, pears, pineapple, oranges, and water, replacing so much of the unhealthy food consumed today. All of this was framed within the Transmodern Digital Educational Model, which promotes the development of individuals for life, and that means having a healthy mind in a healthy body, as this important proverb says.”.

Students from the Agronomic Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Systems Engineering, Psychology, and Business Administration programs, along with administrative staff, participated in the event and gave positive feedback about the experience. “We had very eye-catching decorations, and since there were several stations they visited, the students didn't want to leave once it was all over, as the activities were both fun and educational.”.

Each station was a real challenge for those present. “There was one with water balloons where we worked on the theme of inclusion since the participants had three seconds to run and position themselves anywhere in the green area and the person who was going to throw the balloon was blindfolded, they would uncover their eyes for three seconds, cover them again, and throw it; if it hit the person they had seen, they were eliminated.

The other was limbo, which involves passing forwards under a pole without falling or knocking it down, and each time they lower it. For Zumba, they had to do some dance steps, and for Hula Hoop, whoever kept the hoop around their waist the longest won.”.

For Daniela Alexandra Castillo, a sixth-semester psychology student, this activity was very interesting. “I really enjoyed it because it broke me out of my routine, taught me to better manage my emotions, and gave me key information about healthy lifestyle habits and the programs the university offers, such as the Day Plan and scholarships, among others.”.

Meanwhile, Katerín Rodríguez Real, from the Environmental Engineering program, commented that this space helped her a lot in her personal growth. “I think it’s great that the university provides us with these opportunities, since we just finished a week of midterms, assignments, and final projects, which generates a lot of stress. This helps us relax a bit and manage stress better, instead of the other way around.”.

Finally, Viviana Buitrago, an Environmental Management System professional, indicated that the event was fun. “I enjoyed interacting with other people and the recommendations for a balanced diet, which include eliminating sodas, boxed juices, and ultra-processed foods like potato chips. That's why they gave us fruit. This helped me relax and unwind, something I often experience.”.

In this way, UCundinamarca reaffirms its commitment to educating individuals for life, democratic values, civility, and freedom from a cultural perspective.

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