5 Ways to Take a Break and Practice Self-Care | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Wellbeing

Self Care 101: 5 Ways To Take A Break

Grab a hot cup of tea and get cozy because your paper isn't due for a while!

227
Self Care 101: 5 Ways To Take A Break
Photo by Tim Goedhart on Unsplash

In This Article:

I have always found myself constantly under stress, and I know I'm not the only one. When you're busy balancing things like school, work, internships, life, and so on, it can be pretty difficult to find the time to take a break away from everything. By the time I finally have a moment to take a break, it's usually to scroll through my phone (which isn't always a bad thing), but is it the best way to take a break? Probably not.

Here are my top 5 ways to take a break and relieve stress:

1) Low impact exercises like walking or stretching

Walking is a great way to take a break and clear your head when you're stressed. Getting out into can also decrease the risk of depression and it's free. If you're not a huge fan of walking taking time to stretch can be beneficial. Incorporating light stretching into your daily routine will help relieve any tension you may have and can be done almost everywhere. In the long term, you'll find your stress hormones will decrease too.

2) Treat yourself and your skin with your favorite skin care items

I am guilty of not taking care of my skin enough. As I grow older I find it has become more important for me to take care of it, not because of vanity, but because when you look good, you feel good. Plus, when you don't have enough time in the day to take a break going through, your skin care routine can be very therapeutic. I start out with my basic cleansing and toning, but my favorite part is using face masks! While I wait for the mask to work its magic, I like to grab a book and drink some tea. You can also take this time to meditate, listen to music, or talk to a loved one. Anything to get you feeling relaxed!

3) Take a nap

Have you ever had a billion things on your plate and you don't know where exactly to start, so you end up taking a nap instead? I love taking naps, and it's one of my favorite ways to prevent from being burnt out. Whenever I'm stressed and have some extra time on my hands, I always take a nap for about 15 minutes to a few hours. I find that when I wake up, my head is a bit clear, and I understand how I should prioritize my next few things I need to get done. I'm also a little less exhausted after taking a nap, as it is helping me to have a bit more energy to get things done.

4) Laugh!

I feel like we with all the hustle and bustle going on in our everyday lives, we forget to take a moment to just laugh! Laughter is one of the best remedies to relieve stress since it relaxes your nervous system. Studies have also found laughter has helped patients with a variety of illness. I love finding a good meme or reliving my favorite moments with my friends to laugh about whenever I need a quick break from life.

5) Finally, get cozy by adopting the art of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah)

Giphy

Hygge is the Danish word translating to the feeling of being cozy and content through the enjoyment of the little things in life. Meik Wiking, the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen and author of "The Little Book of Hygge" says, "You know hygge when you feel it. It is when you are cuddled up on a sofa with a loved one or sharing comfort food with your closest friends. It is those crisp blue mornings when the light through your window is just right." What better way to take a break and relieve stress than by wearing sweatpants surrounded by candles and eating your favorite chocolate cake with your favorite people. From the man who researches what makes people happy 

Find out more about the concept of hygge and where to find "The Little Book of Hygge" here.

With all our priorities we tend to get caught up in stressful situations or become at risk of being burnt out. Whether it is taking a minute to play your favorite game or calling a loved one, I hope this reminds you to take a moment to take a break. 

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

152912
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

41157
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

36616
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments