It's that time of the semester, again. Projects, papers, finals, last-ditch efforts to achieve a GPA that won't bring tears to your eyes... That time of semester, where we forget to take care of our physical and mental health because we are too busy psyching ourselves out about what we could or should be doing/studying for.
We quickly become fatigued, frustrated, and wonder how everyone around us could possibly be appearing sane in the midst of all our internal chaos. When passers-by offer a cordial, "Hello. How are you?" internal screams are stifled into brief, grammatically incorrect responses of, "Good, good. I'm good." and we continue to shuffle off to our favorite study spots in the library to slave over a textbook or our laptop for the next 4+ hours.
Yes, you have to study. Yes, you need do your best to get that A or B.
What you do not need to do is sacrifice your sanity and health over scribblings on a piece of paper that you won't remember in a year or even a month.
It's okay to take breaks. It's okay to allow yourself to have a little enjoyment here and there. You work hard and deserve it.
You know how much time you need to review certain subjects, especially those that pose more problems for you, and how much time you'll need to get assignments done. By all means, do not obstruct yourself on these time budgets, but make sure that you aren't drowning yourself in cramming or over studying for something that you know you understand.
When you're beginning to find yourself losing focus, or completely out of your element, this is when these little breaks are the most important.
Do not get on social media for breaks. By no means will this allow your mind rest. If anything, it will just agitate you more and fuel more frustration when you go back to studying because you'll have the illusion set in your mind that everyone else is having a grand ol' time and are as stress-free as a retiree sipping mojitos on some foreign island that they can't pronounce. Wrong. Everyone is losing their shit this time of year. Don't feel like you're alone. Instead, take these tips on restful, refreshing ways you can take a break from that mound of books and papers.
1) Close your eyes. Take a deep breath through your nose. Count to ten. Exhale through your mouth like you're blowing through a straw. Repeat. This is an exercise that will lower your anxiety and fill you with calm.
2) Go drink a glass of water or juice. No harm can be done by keeping yourself hydrated and having a few antioxidants flowing through you.
3) Take a walk outside. That's right, admire that green grass, look at those clouds, embrace that tree! They're all rooting for you!
4) Go to a new room. A change of scenery will free you from some of your previous mindset and will allow you a new range of focus.
5) Watch a movie or your favorite TV show before you go to sleep. Fight the urge to binge-watch, but choose instead for this to be a time for you to decompress and leave the stressors of the day behind so you can start anew tomorrow.
6) Stretch or do a little bit of yoga. Sitting in that chair, hunched over for hours at a time surely isn't making you feel too at ease. Take a couple minutes and allow your body to loosen up by looking up some simple yoga poses and stretches.
7) Watch some Bob Ross videos. That little afro'd man is like a personal painting Buddha. Let his happy little trees bring you to a state of euphoria.
8) Remind yourself how well you're doing and how proud of yourself you are. You have made it this far and only have x amount of days until you're free to relax. Breathe. Take it easy. You're going to get through this.
Be kind to yourself, friend. Everything seems like it's piling up at a blinding rate, but just take it moment by moment and you'll sort your way through it. Everything this time last semester (and the semester before that, and the semester before that...) seemed insurmountable, but you got through that fine, didn't you? (YES YOU DID YOU BEAUTIFUL LITTLE HUMAN!)
