All Recent Articles
Filter by division:

DECA Direct Magazine: De-stress
Between school, volunteering, extracurricular activities and DECA, there’s never a shortage of things to do! Learn how to hit pause, slow down and discover the best ways to manage your stress.

5 Apps to Ease Your Stress
Looking to beat bad stress? Rather than endlessly scrolling through Instagram or stress-shopping on Amazon, turn to these apps to breathe, play and move your way to less stress!

Build Better Habits (and Break Your Bad Ones!)
Having the right habits is more important than ever as you navigate a busy school year. Read on to learn how you can create better habits in any area of your life, plus our tips and tricks for getting rid of your bad habits for good!

Mindfulness Your Way
You may have heard about mindfulness in one of your classes, and perhaps you’ve even tried meditating a time or two. For many people, meditation and other mindfulness practices are a go-to source for stress relief, getting in the zone before a role-play or resetting emotions after encountering an upsetting situation.

De-stress for Success
Life will always throw challenges your way, but the biggest challenges present opportunities for the greatest rewards. So, what’s the best way to manage stress? While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, here are some of the ways that work best for me.

Stress to Success: How to Use "Good Stress" to Succeed in Competition
Stress is often perceived as a negative experience, but the right kind of stress can actually fuel your success in competition and beyond. Read on to learn about "good stress", how to distinguish it from the bad and ways you can harness it to take your competitive edge to the next level!

Work Out the Stress
Today’s teens pack a lot into their busy schedules, which has caused stress levels and anxiety to increase in recent years. D’Andre Vasquez, DECA’s 2019-2020 High School Division President, discusses how he handles the stress in his life and how you can too!

How to Fight Off Zoom Fatigue
Whether it’s trying to combat Zoom fatigue or attempting to deal with the strain and stress that comes from staring at a screen all day, here are three tips to help you de-stress in an age of virtual living.

Take the Stress Out of DECA Scholarship Applications
Each year, DECA awards over $200,000 in scholarships to deserving high school and college members. Here are five tips to help take the stress out of applying for DECA scholarships.

5 Tips to Take Your Productivity to the #NextLevel
Schoolwork, volunteering, extracurricular activities, DECA... can you really do it all without endless all-nighters? We think so! Check out five of our favorite ways to level-up your schedules, to-do lists and priorities for peak productivity.

Managing Stress as a Small Business Owner
After six years as a small business owner and entrepreneur, I’ve adapted a few habits and philosophies that have helped me along the way. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Good Stress, Bad Stress: Find Your Sweet Spot
We all experience stress on a daily basis, but the amount we experience depends on how well we cope with the various stressors in our lives. Here are a few tips to help you identify good versus bad stress and find the perfect balance.

Congratulations to the 2025-26 Leadership Passport Recipients
Congratulations to the 2025-26 Collegiate DECA Leadership Passport Program recipients! The Leadership Passport Program encourages associations, chapters and individual members to participate in events that enhance the experiences of members.

How Collegiate DECA Members Can Turn Their Skills into Real Businesses
Collegiate DECA prepares students for real-world success. By starting small, leveraging their network and taking action, CDECA members can build leadership and entrepreneurial experience long before graduation.

Everyone Starts Somewhere: Supporting First-Year DECA Members
One way UNLV Collegiate DECA supports high school members is by sponsoring competitive events at the State Career Development Conference. Learn more about the importance of supporting the younger generation of future leaders.

Case Study of the Week: Expanding Into Fashion Accessories
Step into the director of marketing for Kosport, a brand of backpacks that are sold at various retailers across the country. Kosport has been making backpacks for over 60-years and is the most well-known brand for school-use backpacks.

Case Study of the Week: Transitioning Due To Ethics
Step into the role of a small business owner that runs Pets for You, a pet shop that sells dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, snakes and fish. You began Pets for You 20 years ago. As a lifelong pet lover, you wanted to start a business that would help connect people and pets with forever homes.

Exploring Air Force Careers: From Enlisted Paths to Becoming an Officer
The U.S. Air Force offers flexible career pathways. Students can gain real-world experience, earn college degrees while serving and grow into leadership positions, building a career that evolves with their goals over time.

Celebrating Trailblazers for Women's History Month
Women’s History Month honors the achievements of women through determination, innovation and leadership. In this article, we focus on a few stories of female trailblazers who made significant career advancements and shaped their industries.

Mindset Matters: How Positivity Fuels DECA Success
Being positive, even when life throws everything at you, helps you navigate the challenges. This article breaks down the power of positivity and how it can be leveraged throughout life, especially in DECA.

Fuel the Journey: Fundraising Your Way to Collegiate ICDC
Getting to CDECA ICDC takes support. Fundraising is the key to turning your hard work into reality. It builds leadership, strengthens your chapter and connects you with your community.

Introducing the Collegiate DECA ICDC 2026 Keynote Speaker
DECA is pleased to announce that Charles Clark will deliver the keynote during the 2026 Collegiate DECA International Career Development Conference Grand Opening Session.

UW-Whitewater Collegiate DECA’s “DECA Deep Dive” Sessions
UW-Whitewater Collegiate DECA’s “DECA Deep Dive” sessions give members extra time beyond regular meetings to practice case studies, work on projects and get feedback from peers. It is where preparation turns into confidence.

From Idea to Impact: How to Find the Next Big Business Idea
Successful business ideas are built by solving real problems. Learn how observation, trend analysis and validation can help Collegiate DECA members turn simple ideas into impactful ventures.

