College is a time of being pulled in various directions and trying to cram 48 hours of work into 19 hours of consciousness. At first, the thought of being involved in multiple activities and doing well in school seems like an easy task. As the school year progresses, we are all hit by random events that could (and will most likely) cause us to become stressed. With exam season in full swing, here are a few ways to avoid the "do I have to" blues.
1. Letting Your Frustration Out
As I mentioned, college is a stressful time. I don't believe that all stress can be avoided, but being able to talk about your feelings makes the stress more manageable for some. This form of release can transpire via multiple outlets. Some take their frustrations out in their writing while some have close friends and/or family members they can turn to. As the semester progresses, the simplest of tasks will make you feel like there are not enough hours in the day. By slowing implementing an outlet into your weekly schedule (solely on a case by case basis), you'll feel more comfortable utilizing this outlet as the exams and papers accumulate.
2. Do Nothing
When I say do nothing, I don't mean that neglecting all of your responsibilities is something you should strive for. Taking time for yourself is extremely beneficial to your mental health and your academic success. Take time to watch your favorite television show or read a chapter of a book you like. Being able to unplug yourself from responsibilities for an hour (some people even unplug for a day per week) will leave you feeling refreshed.
3. Sleeping: Major Key Alert
Sleeping is one of the most underrated aspects of college life. If you just can't study anymore and are feeling sluggish, try taking a power nap. "All-nighters" are real but don't let the exams consume your entire life. I know it's rather difficult to schedule sleeping into a jam-packed schedule but your body needs it. Sleeping is imperative to the retainment of information (but let's not go into the biology and psychology behind sleeping). Plus, why waste your time rereading the same pages over and over because you kept dosing off? Just take a nap and then come back to your homework.
