Winter break often feels like falling into an endless pit, sucked in by the promise of free time—that elusive, daydream concept on which you place a mile-long list of things you want to do and never really finish. It's okay though, because that brief period of free time is over and you don't have to worry about finishing, not when there's coursework to be completed and texts to be read. A new semester is a clean start from both the aimlessness of break and the missteps of the previous semester, a time for continued growth and personal achievements. With this in mind, there are certain things that can ease the persistent stress that accompanies college, even with productivity seeming like a distant memory.
1. Sleep
This one does seem rather obvious, but is highly underrated in the grand scheme of college. Sometimes it pays to put the homework away and accept defeat for the night by just going to bed. Sleep in college is the equivalent of turning yourself off and on again—the ultimate reset button. You will thank yourself for making sure you get enough sleep to last you through the day. It is when you mess up one night of sleep that it becomes hard to get back on a schedule, which can devolve into an unfortunate cycle of sleeplessness and caffeination. How many nights have you convinced yourself it would be fine to stay up late, only to feel annihilated the next morning? Being attuned to what your body needs is imperative, as are the demands and pressures you have to deal with, so please, get some sleep.
2. Coffee
In contrast with those precious Zs you should receive, is the miracle elixir of coffee. Tread lightly, though. Coffee is recommended with the knowledge that it can enhance wakefulness in tandem with a good night's sleep. When employed strategically, coffee can turn any subpar study session into a spurt of productivity. Not much else can be said that you don't already know. Trust in the bean.
3. Me Time
Me time is much different from free time in that it involves a level of self-awareness, more than just an open schedule with vast possibilities. It is the acknowledgement that yes, you do have work to do, but that you should step back from the work and do something else. This largely relies on your own interests, so soak up a couple hours of nothingness or engage yourself in another activity that would allow you some freedom from stress. Of course, taking a break could cause more stress from the work piling up around you, although this is different from procrastination. Spend time with yourself, for yourself.
4. Mindfulness
Mindfulness is in the same vein as me time, with an alternate purpose -- not to simply unplug and de-stress, but to become conscious of your surroundings. Weeks in college can pass by in monotony, resembling a blur instead of a crystal clear image; this is where mindfulness comes in. Taking moments to collect snapshots of who you are right now, whether it be by saving pictures on your phone, writing in a journal, or setting aside time to spend with close friends, is a worthy endeavor.
5. You
You need you. Where would you be without you? Self-care and self-love are beneficial approaches to your own being, especially in college, where it can be easy to feel detached. When you move away to college, you become your own discipliner, so be nice to yourself. Care for yourself. And have a great semester.
