As we leave childhood and become young adults, our lives turn into a series of dates and deadlines, and our central focus is what will look best on our resume. What will get us the best grade, or the highest pay, etc. are so important to us that we are losing our sense of sanity. Being calm, stress-free, and level headed should be a priority to maintain always and not just a luxury we get on weekends in the summer. Being determined and well-motivated is an incredible character trait to withhold, but you cannot let yourself burn out. The summer is winding down and we’ll be going back to school soon, and these long working nights will surely become our realities once again. It’s important to stay sane while we work so had, we will burn out soon enough. So to delay our breakdowns up until finals week in May, here are some simple ways to relax in between your well-rounded, go-getter-student schedule:
1. Treat yourself to your favorite foods.
You don’t have to break out the ice cream to relax and ruin the diet you’ve been working on all summer, but also don’t eat something you hate just because it’s healthy. Eat something that you love. You’ll feel happier with yourself for filling your stomach and pleasing your taste buds, and in turn it will be easier to concentrate on you work.
2. Get a little exercise.
No matter how much you absolutely hate running, even just a small jog is proven to relieve stress. Running is great because it works almost all of your muscles, you’ll work off that pizza you ate the night before, and you get to wear your cute new Nike Pros. Any kind of workout whether it’s running, weights, spin, stairs or yoga will help clear your head and make that term paper or lab report seem a little more manageable.
3. Watch some ‘easy television’.
Studies have proven that we shouldn’t have television on in the background while we work, but I have an exception that helps me when I’m stressed out. When you need to sit down and watch some TV, but simply lack the time to stop working, put on a classic tv comedy that you’ve seen before (and love) as you work. Just listen to it in the background, it’ll make work more fun too! I recommend Friends, or How I Met Your Mother; those are definite stress-relievers. And if you’re not really a sitcom person, put on some calming music, but make sure you don’t end up singing more than studying (I know I would).
4. Tell someone about everything stressing you out, even if they don’t want to hear it.
Call up your mom, sister, best friend, anyone and go through every little inconspicuous event of your day and just vent to get it all off your chest. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Anything you can think of: how you thought of the best idea for you next club fundraiser, how your teacher definitely thinks you’re daft, even how you got pepper in your teeth at lunch and went to two classes afterwards before noticing. And ask them about their day, listening to their stories will make them happier, it’s important to show interest in loved ones lives and we can’t let busy schedules barricade those interactions. Even if the little events of your day aren’t part of the dark cloud of stress hovering over your head, picking up the phone for a good chat with a great person can definitely turn your day around.
5. Take a nap.
Set an alarm on your phone for no less than twenty minutes but no more than an hour, curl under your covers and let your brain recharge a little before you get back to your studying. Sleep improves memory and will actually better implant the information on those flash cards into your brain than non-stop reading until the wee hours of the night will. Your heavy eyelids will thank you, too.
