My friends, we are approaching the near end of fall semester, which means….Soon we will have another semester behind us! At this point, our professors are expecting a lot more from us. Essay and project due dates are piling up and it seems that at every other sneeze, there’s a pop quiz or literary analysis due. Although panic is a common way of coping, I usually try to resort to other soothing methods to assist with the long list of deadlines. Here are several methods that may help you as well!

1. Meditate

This is by far my FAVORITE method! It is a wonderful way to lower the volume of that inner voice that’s panicking and instead, raise the volume on the calmness that is you. There are so many different ways to meditate. There are guided meditations online that you may use or you can sit in complete silence while inhaling and exhaling deeply. I enjoy listening to soothing sounds during my meditative practice. The method of meditation really helps me become grounded again and places me in a great state of relaxation.

2. Pump up the JAM!

There’s nothing like a great song to distract you from your stresses. Follow your flow. You want to try and listen to something that feels a little more upbeat than you are feeling or a bit more relaxed. Some of my favorites include songs like: “Just Stand Up” by Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Ciara and other artists. There’s also “Try” by Colbie Caillat and “I Believe” by Yolanda Adams. These are all songs that remind me that I am capable of anything and that I need not be defined by my worries, for I am a powerful and perfectly capable human being.

3. Rack up on snack ups.

Nothing says awesome like food. If you’re stressed, you’re either craving every meal under the sun or nothing at all. Either way, you want to make sure you feed yourself! Keeping plenty of snacks with you as this will allow you to stay energized and ready to knock out all of those deadlines. If I’m hungry/hangry, I can’t focus. I turn into the Incredible Hulk and my mood is severely altered. Rather than embrace your inner Marvel, keep yourself nourished with foods and snacks that restore happiness.

4. Hydrate.

I know what you must be thinking: “Ugh water?! Really Alexi?” Trust me you guys this stuff works! Drinking plenty of water is a great way to restore your physical body as well as your mental and emotional state. If I’m stressed and start to drink plenty of water, I like to visualize the water running through my body, cleaning out my system and ridding the stress that is within. A literal washing and cleansing of my body. I find that the more hydrated I am, the more I am at peace.

5. Watch an inspirational YouTube video.

When struggling to stay calm, we may need a little extra boost to remind ourselves that we are able to tackle anything that comes our way. When I’m feeling low and worrisome, I like to watch and listen to my favorite speakers and speeches that remind me that I am able. Some of my favorite speakers include Lisa Nichols, Tony Robbins, Abraham Hicks, Gabrielle Bernstein, Oprah Winfrey, Marie Forleo, and Iyanla Vanzant. Each of these individuals has a series of talks about boosting your confidence, sense of self worth, and mindset towards getting what it is that you want.

6. Create!

If you find yourself in a stress bind, one of the things you can do to release that is to create something with your own two hands. There are so many different ways to do this. Consider finger painting, bracelet making, writing, or composing a song if you play an instrument. Make up a dance routine, build a workout, draw stick figures, or create a vision board. Dive into whatever it is that you enjoy the most! Creating will take you out of your current funk and into a loving space.

7. Dress Comfortably.

Nothing irritates me more than being stressed out AND having on skin tight pants. While under stress, the last thing I want to do is squeeze into a pair of skinny jeans. I find that the more comfortable I dress, the better I feel. A variety of big t-shirts and sweatpants are what help me feel most comfortable. Search your closet, and put on your comfy clothes, this way both you and your skin can breathe easily.

8. Light a scented candle.

Aromatherapy is something that has been used for centuries by our ancestors. They have used plenty of essential oils for different purposes. Whether it was for physical healing or spiritual guidance, scents were used to cure and restore the spirit. So rack up some of your favorite smelling candles or incense. Light them and inhale the scents of peace and prosperity.

9. Indulge yourself in a hot bath.

Water is an incredible cleanser, both for the internal and external body. Creating a bath for yourself, especially with bubbles or a bath bomb, really helps to ease the mind. Sit in your tub for a good 10-20 minutes. And while your fingers prune up, keep your focus on the present moment, absorbing the hot and soothing water that surrounds you.

10. Take a walk in nature.

When you find yourself worried about an assignment, project, or a series of several in the same week, a walk in nature can serve as the perfect remedy. Embracing the world outside of your deadlines can really help shift your perception and allow you to realize that our exams and projects are not the end all be all. There is a whole other world out there with birds, trees, and fresh air, ready and waiting to embrace you. They are the menthol to our cough, the eucalyptus to our worries. They are there to remind us that the world is much larger than anything we could ever face. And we, being the powerful inhabitants that we are in its space, are capable of working through every and anything that meets us.

I pray and hope that these methods serve you! Feel free to share your methods with us on how to keep cool when things are falling apart. Whether it’s semester related or life related, we’d love to hear them all. May you all have a wonderful day and remember, there is nothing we can encounter that we are not able to work through. You are the love and light of this world. Clear your mind of stress and worry, and you will allow yourself to shine from within!