The semester is almost over, but the workloads haven’t stopped growing. Even the strongest are starting to crack under the pressure. With finals rapidly approaching, it’s important we don’t let stress and anxiety consume us. Here are some quick stress relievers, in case it all gets to be too much.
1. Fill your dorm with lavender. – Lavender is one of the most calming scents there is. According to health.com, lavender “can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, both of which can help you relax and even drift off to sleep”. You can get a variety of lavender flavored things, namely body lotion, candles, or incense.
2. Eat chocolate. – Chocolate produces serotonin, which is one of the neurotransmitters anti-depressants aim at producing. That’s right, chocolate is scientifically proven to give you small rushes of happiness. So don’t ever feel guilty for indulging.
3. Take a bath. – Some people may feel as though their days of bath time are over, or they can’t stand the idea of soaking in their own filth. But prejudices aside, according to health.com, “water has an innate soothing effect on the mind and body since it connects us back to our time in the womb”. So enjoy some candles or incense while you soak, and a Lush bath bomb, which are all the rage these days.
4. Do some stretching. – You might notice that when you begin to get stressed, your body tenses up and parts of you seem to ache that you never thought could ache. Stretching with a combination of deep breathing can help release the stress in your mind and your body. Physical Therapist Anne Whitis states, “the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response is triggered with stress and the body tenses up…. Stretching interrupts that defensive response and provides relief to the tense body”.
5. Have some tea. – It’s understandable that tea may not everyone’s thing. However, you can’t deny the warmth that radiates from each cup is soothing and comforting, in the same way chicken noodle soup or hot chocolate is soothing. Certain teas are known to have more of a calming affect than others. Chamomile tea is one of those teas, and is “often used to relieve stress-induced symptoms such as insomnia and gastrointestinal disorders,” according to Integrative Medicine, giving it its reputation of being the sleepy-time tea.
6. Meditate. – Meditation has been used for thousands of years for its stress-relieving effects. It’s kind of understood that not everyone comes out of the womb knowing how to properly practice the art of meditation, so here is a helpful Youtube video for your convenience. You may explore more of the positive effects of meditation on WebMD.
7. Listen to music. – I think we can all agree this is a universal stress reliever. Sometimes closing your eyes and listening to some of your favorite tunes is all it takes to bring your stress levels back down.
8. Try some Yoga. – When you practice yoga and continue to practice over the years, you are building a strong body that will endure, starting with your first session. This infographic from Huffington Post will tell you everything you need to know about the positive, long-lasting affects of yoga.
9. Get back to your hobbies. – Making time for the things you love to do is a must in today’s busy world. By doing what you love and spending time with yourself, you are able to focus on something other than the looming responsibilities and stresses that seem to fall on your shoulders.
10. Netflix. – I don’t think this needs any scientific information to tell you that it’s a good stress reliever.
Stress is inevitable. It’s important to keep everything in perspective and to have a healthy way to cope. We can’t change how much stress affects us, but we can change how we deal with it. Hopefully each of these activities will calm your mind as the semester winds down.
Other sources:
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20794075,00.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/26/health/upwave-food-mood/
http://stress.lovetoknow.com/Why_Does_Stretching_Release_Stress