Midterms? Family problems? Your friends are fighting? Girlfriend ignoring your calls? Here are some pretty effective ways that'll help bring you some peace of mind when you're in a particularly sucky period of your life.
1. Go for a walk in a visually refreshing area.
Getting out will make you feel refreshed and take your mind off the things that are stressing you out. Also, taking in different sights than the inside of the library or your dorm room will help your brain dissociate from all of the work that you’ve been focusing on.
2. Vent to someone close to you.
Sometimes we hold in the things that are stressing us out, and they just build up and get worse and worse. Grabbing lunch with a close friend or calling up a relative and expressing your worrisome thoughts will not only help you process them yourself but will also give you a chance to get advice from someone you trust.
3. Watch your favorite movie.
Watching a movie that’s meaningful to you will soothe your stress in the same way as a night home in your own bed might. It’s something familiar and uplifting that takes your mind off the stress that’s currently inhabiting your present life. Eating some of your favorite comfort foods while watching is a plus, too.
4. Write in your journal.
Or if you don’t keep a journal, express your worries on a random sheet of paper in a notebook. It may seem pointless or unhelpful, but writing down your own thoughts is actually really effective in helping you process them – maybe even more effective than expressing them out loud to someone else. Try it out and see if it works for you; you might find yourself feeling a lot better after a good journal writing session.
5. Take a shower.
Even if you’ve already showered that day, taking another one if you’re feeling particularly stressed will probably help you calm down a little. Think about it: When you’re in the shower, no one can bother you because you’re naked, you can’t answer any calls or look at any text messages, and you’re basically in your own little corner of the world with some hot water warming you up and some bubbly body soap making you smell good. It doesn’t get much better than that, right?
