5. Reward yourself for a job well-done. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

5 Self-Care Tips That Never Fail, Even During Even The Most Stressful Times

We've officially hit that point in the semester — now we've got to power through it.

1148
5 Self-Care Tips That Never Fail, Even During Even The Most Stressful Times

In This Article:

It's officially midterm season. You all know what that means, right? Cue the all-nighters and obscene amounts of caffeine that will surely be ingested during perhaps one of the most stressful points of the semester.

No matter how many assignments and papers you get through, no matter how much progress you think you make in a day, it just feels as if it's not enough, with more and more deadlines lurking around every corner.

Even though this isn't my first time dealing with midterms, I still manage to fall victim to that feeling of panic that always tends to arise around this point in the semester. Luckily, my four years of college have prepared me well and allowed me to develop what I feel are five fantastic self-care tips that have yet to fail me.

1. Take a deep breath.

Seriously. I know this is basically self-care 101, but I cannot stress enough how important it is just to take a moment to take a breath and realize that this stress is temporary. While it may feel neverending, with the slew of exams and assignments only serving to solidify that feeling, these seemingly unending weeks will pass.

2. Listen to yourself, and take breaks when needed.

It may feel like there isn't enough time in a day to take a break from your usual daily grind. From classes to assignments to any other activities that may occupy your schedule, it's too easy to disregard your body's pleas to stop for even a minute. Listen to yourself. If there's anything I've learned throughout college, it's that I actually work better with more frequent breaks — those allowed moments that I allocate specifically for my mind to wander off. Do what works for you.

3. Go for a walk.

Even if it's just around the block, I promise that incorporating daily walks will make your days so much better. All of my classes are online, so at the beginning of the semester, I too often found myself sitting and staring at my laptop for nearly eight hours every day. My joints felt stiff, my mind trapped, and I'll admit that I was absolutely miserable. Now I try and walk a few miles every day, and I can genuinely see the difference in my overall mood and my attention-span when working. Go and soak up the sun and enjoy all that the outside has to offer.

4. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.

I know that getting a full eight hours of sleep every night isn't exactly reasonable for most college students. I'm lucky if I manage to get six most nights if I'm completely honest. That being said, on those nights where you can choose between scrolling through TikTok and watching Netflix or turning in early for the evening, I'd recommend choosing the latter. Catching up on sleep can truly make a world of difference in your energy levels and attention-span the next day.

5. Reward yourself for a job well-done.

Whether it's treating yourself to your favorite trip at Starbucks or indulging in some online shopping, give yourself something to look forward to once these stressful weeks are finally over. Plan a day out with friends, set aside time to binge-watch your favorite shows — be kind to yourself and acknowledge how much you've done. Midterms are hard. But you've worked harder.

Report this Content
friends

Whether you're commuting or dorming, your first year of college is a huge adjustment. The transition from living with parents to being on my own was an experience I couldn't have even imagined- both a good and a bad thing. Here's a personal archive of a few of the things I learned after going away for the first time.

Keep Reading...Show less
blank paper
Allena Tapia

As an English Major in college, I have a lot of writing and especially creative writing pieces that I work on throughout the semester and sometimes, I'll find it hard to get the motivation to type a few pages and the thought process that goes behind it. These are eleven thoughts that I have as a writer while writing my stories.

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate

Every college student knows and understands the struggle of forcing themselves to continue to care about school. Between the piles of homework, the hours of studying and the painfully long lectures, the desire to dropout is something that is constantly weighing on each and every one of us, but the glimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel helps to keep us motivated. While we are somehow managing to stay enrolled and (semi) alert, that does not mean that our inner-demons aren't telling us otherwise, and who is better to explain inner-demons than the beloved April Ludgate herself? Because of her dark-spirit and lack of filter, April has successfully been able to describe the emotional roller-coaster that is college on at least 13 different occasions and here they are.

Keep Reading...Show less
college
Pinterest

For many undergraduates across the nation, the home stretch has begun. Only one more semester remains in our undergraduate career. Oh, the places we will go! For the majority of college seniors, this is simultaneously the best and worst year out of the past four and here’s why.

1. The classes you are taking are actually difficult.

A schedule full of easy pottery throwing and film courses is merely a myth on the average campus. With all of those prerequisites for the upper-level courses and the never-ending battle you fight each year during registration for limited class seats, senior year brings with it the ability to register for the final courses you need to fulfill your major. Yet, these are not the easy entry level courses. These are the comprehensive, end of major, capstone courses designed to apply the knowledge from all your previous courses, usually in the form of an extensive research paper or engaged learning project. The upside is you actually probably really enjoy these classes but alas there is no room for slackers here.

Keep Reading...Show less
man in black crew neck t-shirt
Photo by Yogendra Singh on Unsplash

1. You're tired of school food and have resorted to surviving off junk food and cereal.

2. Your financial aid/money is running out...and chances are it all went to textbooks and takeout.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments