The past couple weeks have been among the busiest of my entire life. I feel like every time I fulfill one obligation, there is another one just waiting for me with open, yet not so comforting arms. With homework, exams, quizzes, sorority obligations and extracurricular activities, it seems like I have no time purely for myself. Over this past month, I have been doing work and going to parties without taking at least a half hour out of my day for myself. I know I am not the only one to feel like they are under a never-ending time crunch. With that being said, here are some ways to de-stress, especially during exam season!
1. Sit down and write. Writing down your thoughts for anywhere between 5 minutes and a half hour can be an unexpected outlet. Your thoughts can be funny, sad, joyous, or just plain goofy. Anything is better than just keeping them bottled up. I know from experience that after writing my rambling thoughts on a piece of paper, I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.
2. Go to the gym. Exercising regularly will reduce stress. Having somewhere to physically exert frustration will improve your state of mind. Stretching or activities like yoga can relieve the many tensions that build up in your muscles after carrying around a 15 pound bag on your back or breaking it down nightly on the dance floor.
3. Meditate. The act of clearing your mind takes practice, especially in a world where you are expected to be on top of your social and academic life. Start off meditating for two minutes, then work your way to five. Focus on your breath and the “now.” Let all of your worries fade away for the short amount of time you are taking for yourself.
4. Be creative. If you have artistic abilities, or just like to doodle, take advantage of that! Painting or drawing is a way to express your inner emotions. And hey, maybe you’ll create decoration that you can proudly hang up!
5. Listen to music. Find a playlist on Spotify that calms you down. Playing relaxing music can lower your blood pressure and even reduce the hormones in your body that are linked to stress. By the way, I am taking song suggestions.
6. Watch a comedy. Laughter truly is the best medicine, because it releases endorphins that improve your mood. I highly suggest watching The Office. Seriously. Who doesn’t love a good Michael Scott quote?
7. Read recreationally. Alright everyone, even though technology is taking over the world, hard copies of books still exist. Reading lets your body relax while treating your mind to an adventure. There is an infinite amount of stories out there, so even if its just for a half hour, do yourself a favor and explore them.
8. Sleep! Try and take a nap during the day or at least get 8 hours of sleep. I know this is the hardest one as a college student but sleep gives your whole body the break it needs to function when you are active. Instead of watching that extra Friends rerun, turn off your lights and close your eyes.
