Are you stressed about everything going on in your life? Are you getting homesick? Do you have four exams within the next week, and two papers due by 9 a.m. on Thursday? Of course you're stressed. It's college, so you are definitely not alone. Why not procrastinate just a little bit more on your homework and try some of these easy stress relieving tips?
Although coming back to your dorm after a long day and stuffing potato chips into your mouth while crying into a tub of ice cream sounds like a great way to wind down when you're stressed, it's not!
EXERCISE.
Nothing relieves stress like taking a little time to work out. Not only will you feel better afterwards, but it's fun and it's a good use of time when you really don't want to be doing that project for biology. Grab a group of friends and hit the gym! Try a new workout that you haven't done before. Mix it up! Make sure that you're having fun with your workout, because that will make it much more enjoyable.
DRINK TEA.
I'll admit it, tea is the only thing keeping me sane during this three-week span of midterms. Lavender and chamomile are two of my favorite types of tea. They are so relaxing to drink. If you've just completed a really late night study session, but are still wide awake from all the stress it caused, a nice hot cup of Sleepy Time tea will help you chill out and get cozy. Personally, I've found it helpful to make myself a nice cup of Tension Tamer tea, put it in a travel mug, and drink it throughout the classes that I've felt stressed in. It helps get you focused and lower your stress levels, even when you have a huge midterm exam to do!
TAKE A NAP.
GET ORGANIZED.
If you're stressed, you probably feel like everything in your life is falling apart. We will all experience a time in our life when we feel so stressed that our clothes are thrown all over our dorm, our homework and handouts are in the wrong binders, and there's a huge question mark in our agenda books. It sucks, but one way to feel like you're in control of your life again is to get organized. Create a to-do list, prioritizing your workload. Put your clothes where they belong. Try to put all your worksheets and homework in their respective folders and binders. Once you see that you're all organized, you'll feel much better.
DANCE IT OUT.
Nothing is better than jamming out to your favorite pop album from 1983 ("Let's Dance," David Bowie, anyone?) after a long day in classes. Dancing it out to your favorite songs will 10 out of 10 times make your day better, especially if you're with your friends. Go get your friends and dance it out. Whether you're in the dining hall, your dorm room, a lounge, the grocery store, or the electronics section at Target, just have some fun and be silly!
I hope you use these tips to help you find some peace during the rest of the semester! Take a deep breath. Relax. The stress may seem never ending, but I promise, it is temporary. You can do it -- I believe in you! Remember that you can always go to your friends, family, your RA, and the campus counseling center for support.
