Take a deep breath, count to 4, hold your breath for 7, exhale for 8. Relax.

It’s hard, isn’t it? It’s difficult to find time to breathe. Swallowed by stress, consumed by the things that “need done” by our demanding lifestyles, we feel stretched thin. Eventually, we are dragging ourselves to the “finish line.” Another day. We’ve made it. Take it day by day they say. You can make it.

Mental health- extremely important, and many times undervalued. In a society that’s constantly telling us to do more, be more, try more- life gets MORE overwhelming. What are we to do when we feel like we’re drowning? Surely this cannot be life.

I would like to propose 5 things we can do when we feel as if we’re drowning in many of life’s aspects, whether it be school, work, sports, friendship, etc.

1)Ask someone how they are doing… and genuinely mean it.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned to greatly appreciate, it’s having someone ask me about my day and taking the time to truly listen. Everyone is exasperatingly busy, but I myself have found the great few that make time for me. Try to find those who make time for you. They are rare, precious, and few, but when you discover them, life’s burdens certainly lose much of their heavyweight.

2) Take the time to “waste a moment.”

The Kings of Leon said it best, “Take the time to waste a moment.” Think about it- how often do we give ourselves one small break? Take the moment to get a late night snack with a friend. Take the time to just lie on the floor and breath. Take the time to just be, even if it’s just for a small while. It’s not often that we find ourselves saying, “Oh wow, I have so much time. I think I’ll just sit here.” Amongst all of the insanity, switch it up. Forget the assignment for just a little while. Forget the cleaning that needs done, or the list of groceries you need to purchase.

3) Write about it.

I can say with all honesty that the power to express one’s thoughts completely whether aloud, on paper, or online is a beautiful stress reliever. Since writing for the Odyssey, it’s been a pleasure each week to write, to release my thoughts onto a page, and to simply let my mind run freely. Whether you’re a blogger, a person who journals, or simply someone who writes for fun on notebook paper, place your worries to the side and write. Or even better, write about your worries. Find a means to conquer them. Do not let them swallow you, but rather, relish in the fact that in all reality, they have no power over you unless you allow them. Write effortlessly and endlessly, my friends.

4) More music, less problems.

Instead of having “more money, more problems,” I’m a firm believer in letting music do the talking. To stop the constant rambling and running of our minds, there exists music. It’s there whenever we need it, and there is definitely a wide variety for “all of the feels.” Music junkie or not, I bet you could find a friend with some great suggestions.

5) Rewind, refresh and repeat.

Go back to the things that give you joy. Return home for a weekend if you can to spend time with family. Return to that favorite coffee shop you’ve always adored. Return to the old friend you haven’t spoken to in awhile. Remind yourself of the precious moments you’ve had, and let them permeate every thought because the good thoughts are certainly more refreshing than the not so good. When you need a friendly reminder of why your life is grand, hit the rewind button.