The first day of school has finally commenced! To a majority of people, this is a time for starting the year off strong academically, reuniting with great friends, meeting with new people, and achieving this year's goals. But, even the first day back to the daily grind can get a bit stressful and busy beyond belief. So, here are some ways to start your year off to a relaxing, stress-free start!
1. Get your work done in a timely fashion.
Having new classes means having a whole new semester of work to complete. I know, I know... This may seem daunting. But, getting your work done in a timely fashion can help you start off the year in a proactive way. When I mismanage my time, I find myself scrambling to get my work done right before it's due (that doesn't feel too good). If you maintain these stressful habits, you continue to put more stress on yourself.Learning is all about exploration and getting curious about ideas in a broader respect. So, take the time to do your work when you have the time to sit down & explore. Give it your absolute best. Doesn't it feel extra rewarding to do your best work? (And when you get your work done sooner rather than later, you make more time for other obligations/activities)! You'll be so much more relaxed knowing that you gave it your all and did your absolute best.
2. Feed your body the energy that it needs.
Let me just tell you straight up... I am a sugar fiend. When I see a cookie, I almost always have to partake and when I see them put out the ice cream at the dining halls my heart skips a beat or two. Sometimes when the school year gets busy, it can get really hard to control yourself and your eating. I know that when I'm stressed, I eat a lot of junk food. This habit continues, causing me to feel sleepy and sluggish. Eating, in general, can also be used as a procrastination tool to hold you back from completing your work. Eat foods that will keep your going through out the day. Take up some extra fruits and vegetables for side dishes/snacks. Eat lean proteins that give you the energy to leap forth to your next class. The more energy you have, the more you can accomplish through out your day (and the more relaxed you feel)!3. Get that sleepy time.
See. This little duckling is falling asleep on his Statistics notebook. We underestimate just how much sleep we need. A lot of college students neglect sleepy time because they have to complete work, want to go out with friends, and so forth. But, this is where doing your work in a timely fashion connects with sleeping. The sooner you get your work done, the more time you're going to have to get some sleep and regain your energy for the next big day! Start finding a time to go to sleep that works for you and start working towards going to bed at that time every single night. Routine is what gives you the energy to push forward and do what you need to do! And isn't going to sleep just so cozy and satisfying after a long day of classes?4. Drink a cuppa tea.
Adele likes tea! And tea is very beneficial is so many ways. I drink green tea, which has been said to act as an antioxidant for your body. It is said to keep you energetic, to regulate your digestive system, and to give off many calming qualities. Drinking a cup of tea in the morning to wake you up is a great alternative to coffee. Drinking a cup in the afternoon can maintain your energy to go to your next class or get down to business writing an important paper. Drinking a cup at night can get you in the mood to relax and think over the day you had. Tea also has so many different flavors so it's fun to choose your favorite. Whether it be a smokey earl grey or a sweet chai, tea is a healthy, relaxing drink.
5. Stretch out those limbs.
After a day of lots of classes, you may find yourself to be a bit tense. I get really tense in my shoulders and my back after a long day on the go. When you start to feel a little stiff due to stress/work, go through some easy stretch routines in your dorm room. You can even do some stretch routines/yoga on the quad with friends if you want to make it a group experience! People neglect stretching a lot of the time due to being busy. But, just taking even five minutes out of your day to stretch can get your body feeling relaxing and ready to conquer another day on the campus!
6. Take breaks whenever you need to.
If you keeping working really hard for a lengthy amount of time, you can start to space out and lose motivation. Your hands will get tired from writing/typing and you'll start to drive yourself insane thinking about the same topics for a long period of time. Breaks are so important. They bring you back to Earth for a moment or two and your mind is then free to roam however it may please. Go read some of that book you just bought from Barnes and Noble. Watch a little bit of the newest episode of Bachelor in Paradise. Doodle to your heart's content. Allot a time to take a break and let loose for a bit. This will keep you relaxed about creating new ideas for the task at hand, while also spurring some potential ideas for your task during your break!
7. Know that you can do this.
Even Gordon Ramsey knows you can. Surround yourself with positive mantras and words of encouragement. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and support what you're doing. Positivity can relax you tremendously. Encouragement is something that keeps all of us on our feet and uplifted. Words of kindness can do so much to keep you feeling like everything is alright. Just breath, take a moment, and know that what you're doing is worth something.
8. Spray something yummy.
This pupper really likes the smell of pink little flowers on a warm spring day. After a week or two, dorm rooms can start to get a little stinky, whether we like it or not. Go out to the store and buy a scent that makes you happy. Your senses are always involved in everything you do and even the smell of something calming can make you at peace with yourself.
9. Resolve your worries.
Feeling like you're swamped with worries? Will I get that work done on time? Will I make the musical this year? Will I have the chance to make a difference on campus? One of the easiest ways to calm yourself down if you feel like you're overcome with questions that stress you out is to actively find the answers to your questions. Sometimes our days are so hectic, that we don't take the time to sit and think about how to fix our worries. Taking the time to think things through and resolve them actively can take off a whole lot of stress. Get the answers now if you can. Do not wait until later.10. Listen to some tunes.
This one is a bit less philosophical, but can prove to be just as introspective. Music is universal. We all have a song or two that gets our feet tapping and our hips grooving. When you're walking to class, take some time to pop in some earphones and listen to music that gets you in the zone. Whether this be Beyoncé's latest hits to get your strut on or some Claude Debussy to get your meditative and ready for the day... Music is there to keep you grounded and to keep your mind active.
