There’s nothing quite like the feeling of slipping out of your jeans and tight-fitted top and into some baggy sweatpants and oversized t-shirt after a long day. There’s nothing quite like the sweet sensation of hot chocolate dripping down the back of your throat and the scent of burning firewood in your living room. After a week of exams and seas of papers, there’s nothing I want more than to just relax. These simple things, like warm nights by the fire, can easily help you to de-stress…but that’s only temporary. You can only binge watch so much Netflix before you’re behind on all your homework. I’ve created a series of long term challenges that are intimidating at first, but can impose huge benefits on your well-being in the long run.
1) Disconnect & Reconnect Challenge
Challenge: Unplug that phone charger and allow your phone to drain of its battery. Once it has drained, wait 1 hour before re-charging. Use, allow to drain again, now add on another hour before re-charging. Continue this simple act of addition until you become more accustomed to not having a phone immediately at reach every second of the day.
Objective: To ease your mind into independence mode; to rid of the urge to constantly check your phone for notifications
Impact: Without constant notifications, you avoid any distractions that would cause you to veer from your responsibilities. In this case, procrastination should not be a problem. Avoiding social media also means avoiding pessimistic posts online which only impose extra, unwanted stress. Disconnect and reconnect with yourself.
2) Deep Breathing Challenge
Challenge: In between work or other responsibilities, take a break every 45 minutes and practice some deep breathing for approximately 3 minutes. This should not even feel like a challenge; it should feel blissful. It may feel uncomfortable and forced at first, but you should eventually become accustomed and reap the benefits.
Objective: To continue this practice to the point that it becomes habitual
Impact: These frequent breaks will give the brain time to recuperate. Any daunting stressors will become lesser in their extremities, for deep breathing will relax you physically and mentally. Once done, you can approach your tasks from a more positive, relaxed state of mind.
3) Meditation Challenge
Challenge: Meditate for 10-15 minutes each day. Make this a priority, meaning it should be a part of your daily schedule. Do not come up with the excuse that you do not have time. Create the time because it is important to your well-being.
Objective: To make meditation a daily routine; to relax and reflect on your day ahead or the day that you just experienced
Impact: Meditation not only relaxes the body but encourages self-discovery and self-confidence. To reap the benefits: while meditating, begin to think on your accomplishments, your goals, any optimistic triggers, etc. Conclude your meditation by clearing the mind entirely and simply delving into a state of nothingness to the point that you have closed yourself off to the “outside world.”
4) Writing Challenge
Challenge: Write in a journal for 10-15 minutes each day. Similar to the meditation challenge, make this a priority, meaning it should be a part of your daily routine. There is no structure to what you should be writing--simply record anything that comes to mind or any idea you would like to be preserved.
Objective: To become accustomed to self-reflection
Impact: Meditation is very effective in incorporating self-reflection into our daily lives. However, sometimes it is more beneficial or necessary to self-reflect in writing. Writing means permanence and a chance to go back and see what you recorded. It also serves as a means of venting and letting out any emotions that are responsible for your stress.
