There comes a day during the semester, right around midterms, that I just want to give up. The thought of cranking out yet another paper ,or s struggling to memorize that list of dates or chemical formulas makes me cringe. My focus disappears, and I become not only easily distracted, but easily irritated. As a senior, I believe that I have finally found a few surefire means to cut down the stress enough that I can focus on my work again. While I do advocate planning ahead and being organized, I found that the more lists I made, the more anxious I became. The first thing I did? I put away my books and I did something fun. Here are a few of my stress-busting activities that work every time.
1. Go back to childhood – Whether it be coloring books or Play-Doh, do something that brings you back to the good old days. I always keep a coloring book (or two) in my room at all times, as well as crayons and colored pencils. Being able to color really gives your mind a break and lets you take some time for yourself. Play-Doh is also a wonderful option – molding it into various shapes is almost like using a stress ball, so you can release some of your stress and anxiety while doing something fun and creative amongst all of your serious academic work.
2. Take a walk – Some may say that they would rather save their time for a “serious workout,” but where’s the relaxing in that? Take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood and check out some of the pretty things right in front of us. The streets around JCU are perfect for an easy walk, and with so many students living there, it’s easy to say hello to old friends or meet someone new. Take the time to relax, breathe in the smell of fall, and think through things that are on your mind.Â
3. Take a fitness class – As JCU students, we are incredibly lucky to have so many fitness classes offered to us. Why not use the time around midterms to get a group of friends together for a fitness class? Zumba and power yoga are fantastic options – both give a serious workout while still being fun. They also force your mind to think about things other than school work, so you can be refreshed and ready to go when it’s time to hit the books. Besides, the endorphins released from a good workout help you be happy!
4. Get out of the cafeteria – By the midpoint of the semester, everyone is beginning to get a little bored with the food in the cafeteria. Whether you just can’t come up with a new way to be creative or you’ve eaten the same thing for lunch for the past week and a half, it’s time to take a break. If you’re lucky enough to be close to home (or be friends with someone that is), eating a good home-cooked meal is a great option. Not only is it one meal, but if the host (or Mom) is in a good mood, leftovers mean a tasty mid-study break for the next day. Or, you can grab a group of friends and head to a favorite restaurant. A little time to blow off steam in a group of your besties can make even the most miserable exam pleasant to study for. Plus, eating food that isn’t the norm is a good way to add a little spice in life.
5. Take a breather – Literally! Find a book, YouTube video, or class at a local yoga studio about meditation. Learning to do meditative breathing and similar techniques is a great way to clear your mind of any stress or anxiety about an exam or paper. Plus, meditation has been proven to lower blood pressure, so it has other health benefits as well. Meditation also helps to release tense muscles, so the knot in your back and the tension headache you got two days ago may finally go away.