Finals season is right around the corner, and summer is quickly approaching. The pressure of the spring semester is about to end, where the pressure of the rest of the year follows. No matter your summer plans, it is safe to say that everyone deserves this well earned break from the hectic school year that was “Zoom University.” Before the semester comes to an end, we’re going to discuss some simple methods to help destress and relax ourselves from the pressures of school, work and just life itself.
- Don’t forget to take breaks
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This may seem like an effortless tip, but this is one that I personally forget sometimes. Oftentimes, students forget to sit back and take a well-deserved break from their studies or their workload. Being able to step back and give ourselves a little bit of time to recharge our minds can be beneficial both academically and personally. Take a few minutes off to center yourself, and do absolutely nothing.
- Spend time with those closest to you
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The demand of school can sometimes take focus away from our own personal lives. I have to remind a lot of my friends, and myself sometimes, that my academic life is not the only life I have to choose. Of course studies should come first, but there can be a balance between a social and academic life. Make sure to keep up with your friends and make time to catch up with them. Planning a simple lunch or coffee date with one of your best friends can give you time to take a break, but also focus on your social life a little more.
- Set an eating schedule
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This tip can tie hand in hand with tip #1, but it has to be reiterated on its own. I often find myself scolding my roommates for skipping meals throughout the day. Skipping meals is extremely unhealthy and will come back to bite you in the long run. When we skip meals, we are depleting our body of the necessary energy and nutrients that it needs to continue on throughout the day. Skipping a meal depletes the energy that you need to finish that one grueling assignment! Coming up with an eating schedule or plan and trying to abide by it daily can really help out with this problem. No one likes to be hangry.
- Drink plenty of water
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I cannot reiterate this tip enough: you need to drink water continuously throughout the day! No matter if you think you’ve drank enough water for the day, just keep drinking it. Our body needs water more than it needs food, and without it we will be dehydrated. Not drinking enough water can cause some of the same problems that can come up when not eating. Your body needs these nutrients to function properly, and to ultimately give you energy to complete all of your daily tasks. KEEP DRINKING WATER!
- Keep a planner
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I know what you’re thinking: “All of these tips are sounding pretty basic, nothing I haven’t heard before,” and you’re right. These are simple and easy tips that will turn your life around, I promise. I absolutely depend on my planner throughout the weeks to keep me on track with things. What I like to do is sit down on Sundays and try to plan a rough outline of what tasks I will be completing on what day. Obviously, sometimes things come up and we cannot follow our schedules completely, but that’s fine! As long as you keep a rough outline of your upcoming workload, this can help deter stress that can result from unpreparedness.
- Pick one day where you don’t have to do any schoolwork
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This is a tip that I know a lot of my peers struggle with, but it is one that I can ensure you will help your mental health tremendously. Repeatedly continuing the same tasks all day everyday can be strenuous, and you deserve these hard earned breaks from your workload. Choosing just one day out of the week where you can be completely free from completing any work can allow your brain to slow down and have some time off. If you can’t take just one day off, then maybe try to pick one day where you only complete one or two tasks.
- Pick up a hobby
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Getting indulged in something other than your studies or work is a great way to relieve some stress. Having something else to focus on and indulge yourself in can shift focus from your work to something more lighthearted. It is simply not normal to only be involved in schoolwork and nothing else, you deserve a break, and quite honestly, it is expected. Find a club or workout class that you think you could enjoy!
- Keep your body moving
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Finding some type of physical activity to participate in is going to benefit you not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. I find myself sitting down on my computer for long periods of time sometimes, and I have to remind myself to keep my blood pumping periodically. Take a walk, go for a run or sign up for a fitness class!
- 20 for 20 for 20
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This tip has followed me throughout my years in school, and I think of it quite often. Every 20 minutes that you find yourself staring at a screen, you need to look away. Find something in the distance that looks about 20 ft away, and stare at it for 20 seconds. This allows your mind to get that well deserved break from the screen in a healthy way.
- Try not to be so hard on yourself
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The end of the semester is really stressful and can bring out the worst in some. School is hard and definitely carries a lot of weight, but you are going to get through it. You will be able to make it through this tough school year, and you’re going to come out better on the other side of it. Try to take deep breaths in times of panic and to sit back and really focus on some of these tips I’ve highlighted. Take a little bit of that pressure off of yourself, and know that in a little over a month, this semester will be done!