In our society, so much stress and emphasis is placed on earning high grades and achieving impressive tasks. However, in order to be successful, we must be in good mental, physical, and emotional health. So in the midst of stressing yourself over studying for finals, remember that you must treat yourself in order to gain success without destroying your overall health.
While each individual has their own hobbies and activities that make them feel good and happy, there are some things that universally make most people feel great. I would like to share with you some of the things I do to treat myself, and maybe it might influence you or spark an idea of how you could treat yourself.
1. Get some physical activity.
Physical activity, no matter what form it is in, reduces stress, increases confidence, and gives you a break from doing so much grueling academic work. I see it as a "productive" way to procrastinate, because although I'm not doing schoolwork, I am doing an activity which is good for my body and my mental health. A healthy body usually leads to a healthy mind. In fact, physical activity has been proven to be linked to higher mental performance. The best thing about physical activity is that you can do what makes you feel good, whether it be a sport, running, walking, swimming, dancing, and the list goes on. Treat your body, and your mind will be treated at the same time.
2. Spend time with friends.
Although spending time socializing might seem like it would impact you negatively, I find that the time I spend with friends re-energizes me and makes me feel better despite any troubles I might've had throughout the day. It's nice to talk to your friends about your lives together, and I find that they often motivate me to do well either through emotional support or through leading by example of being productive. Take some time out of your day and dedicate it to sitting down and having a nice "family time" meal with your friends. This leads me to my next point:
3. Eat.
Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Not only do you need food to sustain your body and keep you feeling healthy, but you also need food in order to be mentally and emotionally fulfilled. You need fuel to keep your body fighting through the mental challenges you are faced with throughout the day, and you need fuel to have the energy to continue the tasks you must complete. Listen to your body and give it the right amount of food, and you will be happy in the most basic, bodily sense.
4. Keep clean.
Although cleaning up is a hassle, it makes you so much more content and confident. Having a clean room to come back to and a nicely made bed makes a long, hard day seem that much better. It also means you can stay easily organized as well. Do your laundry, take showers, and anything else you need to do to keep your space as well as your body clean and feeling good.
5. Relax when you need to.
It's all about listening to your body. Instead of relaxing or sleeping when you don't really feel like you absolutely need to, save it for when you are in dire need of relaxation. Only sleep when you are completely worn out, and do your homework or other tasks you need to do when you feel you have enough energy. If you follow this logic, you will have a more flexible schedule because you probably will have gotten your work done earlier when you felt like you had the means to complete it mentally. Listen to yourself and complete your obligations when you feel you would be the most efficient.
6. Remember to have fun.
Whatever you're stressing yourself out over must be important to you, or you wouldn't be stressed about it. With that logic, it's easy to see how everything we allocate our energy towards is worth being dedicated about and succeeding in. With a positive mindset and an optimistic attitude, you can remain happy while completing your tasks. Also, remember that while stress is temporary, success will always be on your resume.
Treat. Yo. Self!
