It has finally come — the dreaded week that every college student wishes never had to happen. Sure, the school has fun activities that are supposed to relax you as you take your final steps in the semester of papers, projects and exams. Everyone loves a free cup of coffee, or my personal favorite, Pet-Away-Stress, where you get to go play with puppies. But not everyone can make it to these activities.
So, here's to all you stress-filled students. Five ways to relieve stress in no time.
1. Take a break.
You have been studying and cramming for hours on end. Take an hour to go have lunch or set an alarm and take a cat nap. Take your eyes off of that harsh laptop screen and explore the back of your eyelids for a while. You want to be at your best when it comes to taking that final, and you won't be if your head is aching.
2. Hang out with a friend.
It is always a nice feeling to go have a good time with your friends. Yes, they are probably busy, but this will benefit you both. You can have a vent session at the coffee shop. When you share your concerns and feelings with a friend that knows what you're going through, it will relieve some of the stress.
3. Smile.
Fun fact: our brains are interconnected with our emotions and facial expressions. People often hold a lot of stress in their faces, so a mere smile can help relieve some of that tension.
4. Move.
The benefits of exercise effects both your body and your mind. A quick way to relieve some stress is to get outside and have a nice 20-minute walk. The weather seems to be getting nicer, but even so, you can always take that walk inside if you have to. You could even go for a quick little jog at the gym!
5. Listen to music.
Can't seem to pull yourself away from your studies? That's OK, just turn on some tunes and put in your earbuds. Play some relaxing music that you can focus to. Music is always a healthy stress reliever.
6. Take a breath.
Go on. Take a deep breath. Studies have shown that cortisol levels are reduced with deep breathing, which can help in reducing stress and anxiety. It can also temporarily drop your blood pressure too, which is always a plus.
So for all of you out there with not a lot of time on your hands, do these things and you will feel better in no time. Or at least for a little while.
