I just finished my first full week of classes of my sophomore year. While it has been incredibly exciting back in to taking classes related (all of which related to my psychology major, and all of which I find fascinating and richly rewarding), there is no doubt that I’ve had a bit of a tough time getting back into the swing of things. With a full calendar of classes, labs, extracurricular activities and social commitments, I’ve already started to feel overwhelmed. However, my personal goal this year was to make time for self-care. I’m going to share with you five of my favorite ways to de-stress during a hectic week.
2. Read a chapter in a book
I know, I know. You already have approximately 737 pages of required reading to do for your Government, English and History classes already. And they have to be done by tomorrow. Still, there is something very calming about reading one chapter in a book you enjoy and it especially makes for part of a nice nighttime routine if you do it right before bed. Make sure it's something you'll look forward to reading, and that doesn't have super-long chapters. That way, when you take the thirty minutes or so it takes to read a chapter, you'll let your brain take a little break.
3. Go Internet “window shopping” or watch a funny YouTube video
For those of you who are more technologically inclined, it’s also possible to de-stress using the Internet as a tool to do so. I personally like to browse Amazon to look at school supplies, electronics and bath products. Something about aimlessly browsing and looking at cool stuff really relaxes me. Or, if you want to do something even more passive, take fifteen minutes and watch a video of a puppy chasing a butterfly, or one of Jimmy Fallon’s lip-sync battles (especially the one with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Stephen Merchant). Just make sure you limit the time you spend and and that it doesn’t turn into a form of procrastination (not that I’m speaking from personal experience…).
4. Phone a friend
One of the awesome things about living on-campus is that all of your friends are within walking distance. You can spend hours talking with them, hanging out, watching movies or whatever else you want. Still, they are students just like you and are dealing with the same stresses and environment as you are. While it’s great to vent to them, sometimes these sessions can end up making you both even more stressed out. That’s why I recommend having someone from outside your “college bubble” you can call. This can be your friend who goes to school across the country, a mentor, your parents or a sibling. Just find someone who can offer you an outside opinion and help put things in perspective.
5. Exercise
When you first hear the word “exercise,” your first thought may be ” that sounds stressful, not stress-reducing.” As someone who gets winded climbing up a couple of flights of stairs, I hear you and I understand. Despite this, exercise can have a lot of benefits in terms of your stress level. I go to Zumba classes a couple times a week and the combination of the loud music, fun dance moves and sense of community energizes me both physically and mentally. It also allows me to just move and be present in the moment. For you, this might be yoga or even a brisk walk around campus. Move your body and your mind will thank you.
I know that I will be using all five of these tips heavily over the semester to help with my stress load. In fact, a hot shower and a phone call to mom sound really good right about now… Remember that, even in college, where there can be a competitive atmosphere where we push ourselves to achieve, perform and deliver, self-care is of paramount importance. Take care of yourself and the rest will fall into place.
