“Zen Out” is a phrase that boggles the mind of the stressed. You’re probably reading this article because, like me, you’re avoiding studying while simultaneously trying to get your life a little bit more together. But when do I have time to relax? is a question that most of us have at some point. When we’ve gotten to the point where we actively seek help on relaxation by using the internet, it’s time that we focus on what we don’t control over: not stress, not assignments, not the economy which affects whether or not you get to do laundry without begging your mom for money. You do, however, have the ability to control the amount of relaxation you put in your everyday life. Creating a place that is yours to relax in is important to give your mind a break and stop the hamster wheel of thoughts running through your head. Here are some easy, non-time consuming ways to zen out your room.
1. Get a Plant.
Plants can brighten up a room and also purify the air. Being around nature is scientifically proven to reduce stress and improve your immune system. Having a simple plant like bamboo or ivy won’t take too much time out of your day to water, but if you’re not one with a green thumb, try an aloe plant or a small cactus. Make sure you put it by the window, though, because not a lot of sunlight bleeds into small dorm rooms.
2. Get some speakers.
Music is always an easy way to get your mind off of things, whether it be making music or listening to music. To save your neighbors some grief, it’s probably not best to sing or play the guitar too loud in your room. Being able to listen to music without headphones is a good way to just immerse yourself in the moment and forget about the other things you have to do. Get your Spotify playlist ready (here’s a good one to listen to when you just need to calm down and be happy that I made just for you) or get your records out, turn the volume up, and take a few minutes to feel the music.
3. Get a carpet and sit on the floor.
If you don’t have one already. I’m talking a super fluffy one that you can sleep on. You can also temporarily make one with the blankets you have. A desk confines you to one spot where you have to look at all of your work, all of the time. Doing your homework on a fluffy carpet will give you space you need while staying super cozy. Or, you can just take a quick nap on it. You should be able to lay down on more places than just your bed!
4. Put work-related objects in a certain place, and don’t let it get into your zen zone.
Doing your homework in bed makes your bed feel less like a place of comfort and more like a place of duty. Having your books stacked on the bookshelf that you can see right when you walk in the door isn’t a relaxing sight to see after a long day. Find a place to put your books that are out of sight when you’re trying to relax, whether it be under your bed, in your backpack, or on the top shelf. Out of sight, out of mind.
5. Get a nature-themed tapestry.
Adventuring and seeing nature is something that frees our mind of all stress. If you can’t take a road trip to the mountains, or if you want to go to the forest but it’s raining outside, you can bring in a scene of nature with one of these wall tapestries. They also help to make your room look bigger, and they’re easy to hang without damaging walls.
6. Mini-yoga sessions (without the physical effort).
It’s easy to say that going to a yoga class will help you free your mind and spirit, but who really has time to go to those? Instead, when you’re in your zen zone, sit in a chair or on your bed so that your feet can touch the ground. Keep your shoulders back and your chin pointed slightly upwards, close your eyes, and focus on deep, thorough breathing. This could take a minute to 30 minutes, however long gets you to slow down your constant thought process. Even though this may not feel like it does much, this deep breathing actually helps the part of your brain that changes the body’s reaction to stressful situations, in the same way that breathing helps ease anxiety. You can easily do this when you get stressed in class too!
7. Try to put your bed near a window.
If your roommates are okay with it, and the shape of your room allows it, by all means, definitely put your bed in sight of a window . Putting the head of your bed directly under a window is bad feng shui, but seeing the window when you’re feeling stressed or down is a way to connect with nature if you can’t go outside. Hearing it rain is relaxing, but being able to see the rain will be even better. Also, the sun in the morning naturally wakes your body up, putting you in a lighter sleep cycle right before you actually wake up.
8. Motivational words.
It sounds cheesy, but having a constant visual reminder of something that gives you hope is always needed when we feel like giving up. Make an art project out of this to get your mind off of work: get some canvas and paint the word, get some pretty lettered stickers to put on colored paper, or do some embroidery if you really feel like procrastinating!
9. Keep your room cool.
We all want to sleep on the cool side of the pillow, but why? Research in Australia suggests that sleeping in a cooler room helps insomniacs to sleep better. Not only does sleeping in a cooler room get us to sleep more quickly, but sleeping in cooler temperatures can also help us to burn fat! The cold will increase your metabolism, especially while you sleep. During the day, going into a cooler room will help to keep you awake, in case you felt the need to nap after class.
10. Fairy Lights.
If you’re a girl in a dorm, odds are you probably already have these lights. Having a way to light your room dimly will relax your brain - and put you to sleep - more easily. If you get fairy lights, make sure to get red-tinted or slightly dull lights. Blue is the color that keeps us up the most at night, and lights with blue hues aren’t relaxing to the eye, nor the brain, so don't buy those. Try getting warmer-colored lights like the ones I have pictured for the most relaxing environment. I use these lights from Target when I know that I’ll be going to bed sometime soon to give a relaxing and warm tone to the room.
How do you relax during a busy day?
