After a long and relaxing winter break, the spring semester has come into full swing, with many of us already feeling the overwhelming pressure of classes, extracurriculars, and upcoming midterms. It’s hard to control what college (and life in general) throws at you, but you can control the stress that comes with it. Here’s a list of things to try this semester:
1. Exercise
Take a break and go for a run, do some yoga, or just stretch your muscles! Exercise obviously has physical benefits, but it also activates your brain’s pleasure circuits by increasing your levels of dopamine, a chemical signal released in your brain that plays a huge role in positive feelings. It helps your brain and body stay focused, motivated, and productive!
Don’t let stress take over! You can control how your mind and body feel by giving them just a few minutes of reward time.
2. Organize yourself
Organize your stuff! Being organized can make you feel like you have your entire life together, even if you don’t. Start by organizing your desk. Put the textbooks and notebooks you are currently using into one pile and the ones you aren’t using in another pile or on a shelf. Throw out or put away anything you don’t need anymore, including old notes, trash, etc. If you’re anything like me, a cluttered work area can make you feel like your life is in shambles. Create a clear space where you can be productive.
3. Face masks
Treat yourself! Take a nice shower and put on a face mask. Aside from transforming dull, tired skin into brighter, healthier-looking skin in just about 15 to 20 minutes, face masks can make you feel more revitalized and ready to take on the rest of your responsibilities for the night. A few brands that I would highly recommend are Tony Moly, Soo Ae, Manefit, and Origins. Face masks often have different categories like revitalizing, brightening, moisturizing, pore care, etc. Pick one that’s best for your skin’s needs!
4. Make lists
Writing down important dates and to-do’s in a list, whether it’s in your agenda or on a simple post-it note, can make you feel a lot less overwhelmed by the various things you need to do for different classes, clubs, etc. Put your list somewhere you’ll see it everyday so you won’t forget about it.
5. Let it out
Call your mom, dad, pet, or best friends from back home! It’s so nice and refreshing to talk to someone you don’t see everyday, whether it’s to tell them about how your day went or to rant/cry about everything and anything. It sounds ridiculous, but you’ll instantly feel less stressed after just talking about all of the things stressing you out. Your parents will be inclined to give some helpful advice and seeing your pet on FaceTime might actually make your life just a little bit better. It’s okay to ugly-cry sometimes too.
Sources:
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