All we really want to do in life is sleep, food, and Netflix.

What is the key to the ultimate lazy day? A pair of pajamas? Cuddling with your significant other? Watching your favorite Netflix show?

Let’s be serious, it’s Sunday and already your week looks packed. Between writing essays and attending events, all we really want is to lie down and relax. I don’t know about you guys but Sundays, for me, are for relaxing and realizing at 3 am I have something due in a few hours. But please do not do this.

However, Sundays are meant for “relaxing.” But realistically, it’s not. It has become the day to do the homework that we swore we were doing to do the day it was assigned. Put the finishing touches on your internship application. Gathering all the paperwork for that one professor who demands the world from everyone. Sometimes, all we want is to relax and take a breather.

Here’s what I usually do when my Sundays become overwhelming.

• Stop whatever you’re doing and do some simple breathing exercises. Counting numbers usually helps or inhaling and exhaling for several minutes.
• Go to Pandora and type “Calm Mediation Radio”
• Make yourself a cup of tea. Yes, it sounds like I’m living like an old lady. But it works.
• Closing your eyes for several minutes and thinking of happy thoughts.
• Disposing of all sorts of negative materials to create a more relaxing atmosphere.
• Surrounding yourself with family and friends.
• Grabbing that book you promised yourself you’re going to start reading and read a chapter.

Treating yourself is the key to true happiness. Whether it’s doing these simple steps or buying a new lipstick. It’s important to fill that void of emptiness and become more occupied with different activities.

Recently, I’ve struggled with trying to stay calm and have my body consume with stress and negativity. After reading some mediation articles and watching some videos to help with releasing stress, I’ve come up with these steps to help with the release. It wasn’t easy and it’s still isn’t easy. By doing these exercises and eliminating negative surroundings, I’ve come to realize that inner peace is a slow steady process. Like, the saying “slow and steady wins the race.” Don’t worry about being the hare; it’s all about being the tortoise. Figuratively speaking, of course.

If you’re like me who’s constantly thinking and over analyzing certain things, try these steps. It’s easy to write tips and reading them, but performing them under stress is a lot harder. But always remember and this has helped me recently, stress is temporary. Believe in the process and trust that everything happens for a reason. Inner peace and being confident with who you are is forever.

“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming” – John Wooden