The beginning of November marks the home stretch of the semester for college students. After a much-needed fall break, we’re now down to the wire, which is when the real fun begins (you know: sleepless nights full of coffee, studying and endless textbooks). Now that finals will soon be upon us in the next couple of weeks, it’s easy to forget to take some time for yourself and relax. Yes, tests and assignments are stressful, but don’t let your ambition to succeed get in the way of self-care! Read on to discover 6 tips for self-care and stress relief during the most stressful time of the semester:
1. Face masks
Relax and unwind after hours of studying with a refreshing face mask. There are tons of masks, affordable and high end, to choose from based on your needs, so you can never go wrong!
2. Essential oils
There are tons of benefits when it comes to practicing aromatherapy, and stress relief is one of them. You can just use essential oils alone, mix them into a bath or even into your shampoo and lotion. If you don’t feel like mixing them yourself, there are tons of products in stores like Bath and Body Works and Amazon that sell essential oil products! They’re usually pretty affordable, and the resulting relaxation you feel from using them is well worth any money spent.
3. Skin care
Day to day life can be pretty hectic, and as a result, our skin care routines can sometimes suffer. I personally try to do the bare minimum when it comes to skincare because I’m either rushing to class or dying to get in bed after a long day. So, if you want to relax and focus on yourself, take a night off from studying and do an in-depth skin care routine! Wash that pretty face, slap some toner on, moisturize, and do a nice face mask!
4. Focus on a hobby
Studying takes a lot out of you, and it doesn’t take long for it to feel like it’s consumed your life. Take some time to focus on a hobby you’re passionate about – whether that’s sailing, reading, writing, drawing, playing an instrument, singing, dancing – you name it! This self-care time is all about focusing on YOU, so do what makes your heart happy!
5. Watch your favorite movie or TV show
Instead of studying all day and into the night, why don’t you call it quits a little early and unwind with your favorite movie or TV show? I love plopping down on the couch after a long day or hard study sesh with my favorite snack and Friends on the TV. It’s the perfect way to end the day!
6. Meditate
Meditation is a way to gain mindfulness and ground yourself. Whether it’s through yoga or your own self-practice, meditation is an amazing way to relax and de-stress yourself in the midst of finals week craziness. Breathe – and remember it’s all going to be OK!
I hope this article inspired you to take some time for yourself as the semester comes to a hectic end. Good luck to everyone taking finals!! Y’all are gonna KILL IT.