College life is stressful, there's no doubt about it. There are classes to attend, clubs to participate in and numerous activities across campus. But don't forget to take a break once in a while! Here are my top ten ways to de-stress while in college.
1. Listen to your favorite playlist.
I love music. I do not understand anyone that doesn’t love music. Those people are psycho. I listen to a wide range of artists, from Queen to Twenty One Pilots, to J. Cole to Kygo, to Amy Winehouse. Plus 50,000 more. To de-stress, I highly recommend the playlists “Hanging Out and Relaxing” (dumb name, fantastic songs) on Spotify, or “Eargasmic Study” or “headphones in, world out” on 8tracks.
2. Watch a funny T.V. show.
After listening to music, my second all-time favorite
3. Have a beach day.
My hometown is a ten-minute drive from Lake Michigan, and that is something I definitely took for granted before moving to Des Moines. If you don’t live near a beach, spend some time outside by going on a walk or just laying in the grass. Last year, a few friends and I would take study breaks by lounging outside our dorm rooms for an hour or two. The important part is that you get fresh air; I know when I’m inside for too long, I start to get a headache. Not good.
4. Treat yo self.
“Clothes. Fragrances. Massages. Mimosas. Fine leather goods.” Every once in a while, it’s okay to splurge, just don’t overdue it. Know your budget, and pick something that you will really enjoy. Like Socrates says, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Or like Rebecca Bloomwood says in “Confessions of a Shopaholic”, “When I shop, the world gets better.”
5. Become an explorer.
If you’re like me and you moved to a completely new city for college, there are a ton of new places around to discover, and you don’t always have to spend a fortune! Two of my roommates and I recently went to a Saint Motel concert in downtown Des Moines for $15 per ticket. I know, I couldn’t believe it either! Wherever you live, there’s always something new and exciting to do or see, you just have to look for it.
6. Exercise.
This is not my favorite way to de-stress, but it really is good for your body and mind. I play intramural soccer and flag football, and both are actually really fun. Plus, then I don’t feel as guilty eating ice cream after dinner.
7. Get organized.
I’m a tad OCD sometimes, and it is impossible for me to be stress-free if my room is a mess. Pick a day of the week when you know you’ll have time to clean and organize your room (and life, if need be) for a good half hour. This may not sound like a fun one, but I promise you will feel better when your floor isn’t covered in clothing.
8. Eat your favorite food.
This is a pretty obvious one, but eating a plateful of sushi or a giant piece of chocolate cake can really boost your mood. Not only are you fulfilling your hunger, you’re taking a break from other things when you gobble up your favorite meal, whether it be for ten minutes on your dorm room floor or two hours at a restaurant.
9. Get enough sleep.
This is probably the most difficult thing on this list for me to accomplish, sadly. We college students think that we can survive on less than eight hours of sleep every night, but this is far from the truth. The stress-sleep cycle is real: if you don’t get enough sleep, it is more likely that you will feel stressed. If you are stressed, it is more difficult for you to fall asleep. So no matter what, you should try your best to sleep for at least eight hours each night. And do not always rely on naps, but taking a nap can definitely give you a nice break from a busy day.
10. Turn off your cell phone for an hour (or longer).
This could be a toughie for many people, but challenge yourself. Many times after a class or when I wake up in the morning, I’ll check my phone to find a billion notifications, anywhere from texts to GroupMe to Facebook messages to emails. It can be quite overwhelming. I haven’t taken a full cell phone break since summer, but occasionally I will leave it in my room when I go to eat brunch or dinner with friends. It’s a good way to focus on whoever you’re with or whatever you’re doing, and not have to worry about what you need to do later. At least for a little while.
