Stressed Out? Here are 5 ways on How to Unwind in College

Stressed Out? Here are 5 ways on How to Unwind in College

Tips for those who don't know how to relax, or sleep well.

Riley Brennan
Riley Brennan Oct 11, 2018
184
views

Now that we have entered October, midterm season is upon us, or close to it. While studying and getting all of your work done is important, sleep should also be a priority. And not just any sleep, but GOOD sleep. In order to you get a quality night sleep, you'll need to unwind before just jumping into bed. Most college students don't have hours to spend unwinding and relaxing, but here are a few quick tips that can do the trick.

Play relaxing music 

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If you type in "relax" or "sleep" into Spotify, there are tons of playlists that will help relax you, and better prepare you to sleep. This first step is something you can do as you finish your last couple of tasks of the night, whether it be finishing your homework or brushing your teeth.

Essiential Oils

I'm sure you've heard of these by now, but essential oils are oils extracted from plants. Using a lavender essential oil before bed can help you sleep better and relax, as lavender has been found to have soothing properties that aid in destressing. Buying an essential oils defuse is a great way to use essential oils as it surrounds your room/area with them. However, a cheaper option may be to just buy a bottle of lavender oil and rub a drop onto your wrists or temple.

Don't eat before bed

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It is recommended to have your last meal a couple hours before you intend to sleep. By doing this, you allow your body time to digest your food. Going to sleep right after you've eaten means your digestive system has to digest food while you're resting when it should be resting as well. This means that you may not be able to fall to sleep easily or have a quality night's sleep. However, drinking a cup of tea before bed can help you unwind and will not stress your digestive system (just make sure it's decaf)!

Put down your phone

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I am probably not the first person to tell you this, but putting down your phone/other electronics about an hour or so before bed will help you unwind, and allow your brain to create the melatonin it needs to send your body the message to sleep.

Read

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Ever been reading something for class and found yourself start to doze off? Reading is a great way to relax before bed. Reading a book/magazine/print on paper is less strenuous on the eyes than a phone or electronic device is, and can actually help lull you to sleep.

All of these tips should be helpful in allowing you to unwind after a busy day, before heading off to sleep! Getting a good night's rest is especially important when you have a busy week of exams, essays, and classes! Try these tips to ensure a good night's sleep.

Riley Brennan
Riley Brennan Oct 11, 2018
At University of Maryland College Park

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I Am A College Student, And I Think Free Tuition Is Unfair To Everyone Who's Already Paid For It

Stop expecting others to pay for you.

Brianna Lyman
Brianna Lyman Apr 17, 2017
11216
views

I attend Fordham University, a private university in the Bronx.

I commute to school because I can't afford to take out more loans than I already do.

Granted, I've received scholarships because of my grades, but they don't cover my whole tuition. I am nineteen years old and I have already amassed the debt of a 40-year-old. I work part-time and the money I make covers the bills I have to pay. I come from a middle-class family, but my dad can't afford to pay off my college loans.

I'm not complaining because I want my dad to pay my loans off for me; rather I am complaining because while my dad can't pay my loans off (which, believe me, he wants too), he's about to start paying off someone else's.

During the election, Bernie frequently advocated for free college.

Now, if he knew enough about economics he would know it simply isn't feasible. Luckily for him, he is seeing his plan enacted by Cuomo in NY. Cuomo has just announced that in NY, state public college will be free.

Before we go any further, it's important to understand what 'free' means.

Nothing is free; every single government program is paid for by the taxpayers. If you don't make enough to have to pay taxes, then something like this doesn't bother you. If you live off welfare and don't pay taxes, then something like this doesn't bother you. When someone offers someone something free, it's easy to take it, like it, and advocate for it, simply because you are not the one paying for it.

Cuomo's free college plan will cost $163,000,000 in the first year (Did that take your breath away too?). Now, in order to pay for this, NY state will increase their spending on higher education to cover these costs. Putting two and two together, if the state decides to raise their budget, they need money. If they need money they look to the taxpayers. The taxpayers are now forced to foot the bill for this program.

I think education is extremely important and useful.

However, my feelings on the importance of education does not mean that I think it should be free. Is college expensive? Yes -- but more so for private universities. Public universities like SUNY Cortland cost around $6,470 per year for in-state residents. That is still significantly less than one of my loans for one semester.

I've been told that maybe I shouldn't have picked a private university, but like I said, I believe education is important. I want to take advantage of the education this country offers, and so I am going to choose the best university I could, which is how I ended up at Fordham. I am not knocking public universities, they are fine institutions, they are just not for me.

My problems with this new legislation lie in the following: Nowhere are there any provisions that force the student receiving aid to have a part-time job.

I work part-time, my sister works part-time, and plenty of my friends work part-time. Working and going to school is stressful, but I do it because I need money. I need money to pay my loans off and buy my textbooks, among other things. The reason I need money is because my parents can't afford to pay off my loans and textbooks as well as both of my sisters'. There is absolutely no reason why every student who will be receiving aid is not forced to have a part-time job, whether it be working in the school library or waitressing.

We are setting up these young adults up for failure, allowing them to think someone else will always be there to foot their bills. It's ridiculous. What bothers me the most, though, is that my dad has to pay for this. Not only my dad, but plenty of senior citizens who don't even have kids, among everyone else.

The cost of living is only going up, yet paychecks rarely do the same. Further taxation is not a solution. The point of free college is to help young adults join the workforce and better our economy; however, people my parents' age are also needed to help better our economy. How are they supposed to do so when they can't spend their money because they are too busy paying taxes?

Free college is not free, the same way free healthcare isn't free.

There is only so much more the taxpayers can take. So to all the students about to get free college: get a part-time job, take personal responsibility, and take out a loan — just like the rest of us do. The world isn't going to coddle you much longer, so start acting like an adult.

Cover Image Credit: https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/free-college-new-york-state.jpg?quality=85
Brianna Lyman
Brianna Lyman Apr 17, 2017
At Fordham University

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Writing Saved My Sanity

Write it all down when you can't talk to anyone.

Emilly Maitland
Emilly Maitland Jun 20, 2019
807
views

I love writing.

I have since elementary school, and I've dreamed of becoming a published author. I started off writing stupid plays in elementary school, then it grew it almost writing a full-blown novel in middle school. I have no idea where that thing went to. It was all notebook paper and bad writing. In high school, my writing was kinda pushed to the side so I could focus on school. When I entered college, I started writing small poems about my now ex-boyfriend.

I was scared to express myself to him sometimes, the intensity of my feelings for him scared me. So instead of telling him, I wrote them down. When I tried to share them with him, he hated it. He thought writing down feelings was weird and creepy. So I didn't share anything else with him. When we finally broke up for good, everything just poured out of me. What I couldn't express verbally, I wrote or typed out.

I always have ideas flowing through my head. They never cease and I wouldn't want them to. Writing gives me an escape, from stress, work, school, or fights. It gives me a place to vent and to be open with everything. This is a reason I love writing for Odyssey, not only has this place brought me amazing friends but revived my love for writing. I'm never without my notebook anymore, I'd get distracted in class by an idea and have to write I think then and there.

I love sharing my more personal writing with close friends, especially my poems as of late. I found that I have a voice for young women who find themselves in a toxic relationship much like mine was. I want to speak out and show them that you can grow from the bullshit. It may take some time, but you will be better.

Writing saved my sanity. It allows me to express myself without having to use my actual voice. Anyone who knows me, knows I hate public speaking. I tend to psych myself out leading up to it. My current projects include writing for Odyssey every week, I'm in the process of trying to continue my short stories, and I'm excited to announce that I'm currently working on my very first poetry book!

Writing has given me so much, and I'm so looking forward to making a career out of something I love so much.

Emilly Maitland
Emilly Maitland Jun 20, 2019
At Longwood

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