Everyone gets a little (or a lot) stressed out, especially in college. We're swamped with exams, hours of homework, maintaining a social life, making it to morning classes...it's intense! But it is so insanely important to take some time for yourself to just relax! Sometimes, you get so stressed out that you actually can't think of ways to de-stress. Here, I have compiled a handy-dandy list of ways to chill out:
1. Go for a walk. Short or long, just get outside and enjoy a leisurely stroll!
2. Bake something. You can bake something for yourself or others, and don't be afraid to taste test!
3. Retail therapy! It doesn't have to be clothes either, just purchase an item or two that makes you smile.
4. Organize your room, declutter, be zen! You'd be amazed what a newly cleaned space can do for you!
5. Get crafty. Draw, paint, color, knit, decorate your room! It doesn't have to look like a masterpiece.
6. Put your phone away for awhile. Just. Put it. Down.
7. Go hug someone! It can be your best friend, a boyfriend/girlfriend, your pet. Just get a good looong hug.
8. Meditate. Meditation has a lot of scientific research to back up its relaxation and general health benefits. You can meditate for two minutes, or hours on end!
9. Do a simple breathing exercise. Just focus on your breath and breath evenly for a couple of minutes.
10. Watch a movie that always makes you smile! I have a list of go-to movies just for this reason.
11. Go buy a plant or a fish. Something that's not too stressful to take care of, but can be a healthy distraction when you're overwhelmed.
12. Listen to music for awhile. I would probably go insane if music didn't exist!
13. Go to your local shelter and pet some animals! I love visiting the cat shelter, and just cuddling up with some furry kitties for an hour or two; plus shelter animals need the love too!
14. Look up videos for relaxation on youtube. This is a good go to right before bed, and there's a lot of variety in visual or audio to help calm your mind.
15. Go take a nap outside for an hour. The sunshine is good for you, just make sure to put on sunscreen first!
16. Journal for a bit. Write down a list of good things that happened that day, or a list of thing that weren't so good so you can put it all into perspective.
17. Enjoy some aromatherapy! I highly recommend buying a few essential oils and a simple diffuser. That diffuser gives me life.
18. Go somewhere new. This is always fun! Bike, walk, drive to somewhere you have never been that sounds cool. I am rarely let down by doing this.
19. Read something simply for pleasure. Put away the textbooks and pick up a novel, or even a magazine. Get lost in the words!
20. Take a nice, warm bath or shower. Take some extra time to just soak and imagine all of the tension flowing out from you and into the water.
21. Make a yummy beverage. Tea, cider, hot chocolate, coffee...the choices are endless.
