We’ve all hit that point in our lives at some point (or many points) where we’re so exhausted and overrun that we just can’t anymore. This article idea comes from an episode of The Bold Type, which you can find on Hulu or Freeform. One of the main characters in the show, Jane, is going through many transitions and important decisions in her life and has to write an article for the week, so she comes up with this one. I have also been exceedingly stressed lately, so I figured I’d go the Jane route and give writing an article like this a shot.
- Have a solo dance party in your room. This one always holds true as an instant mood boost no matter what else is going on in your week. Blasting some Miley Cyrus never hits quite as well as when you’re in a pretty terrible mood but you pull it together to dance it out.
- Eat foods that make you feel good. This list item can be as flexible as you want it to be. Whether it’s food that feels good for your soul, your body, or both, eat what makes you happy. When your body is filled with goodies, you too will be feeling much better. Eating with friends is always a plus also!
- Take a trip with your friends. I know this one can be difficult at school, especially if you don’t have a car, but even just taking a long walk outside can improve your headspace immensely. If you do have access to a car, I highly recommend getting off campus for a little trip somewhere, even if it’s not that far. With spring break coming up, this is also the perfect time to clear your head away from the stress of school and everything else that goes on while you’re on campus.
- Have a movie night. Sometimes when you’re having a rough week all you want to do is sit and not think. Having a movie night with your roommates or other friends is the perfect way to remedy this. Even when there’s homework and other stressors at hand, it can be beneficial to take a break for a couple hours and let your mind be free for a little.
- Journal. While this suggestion might not resonate with everyone, journaling can be a fun and useful way to help yourself get out of a funk. If you’re not someone who usually enjoys journaling, maybe look up prompts online (TikTok has some good ones!) and talk about them with a friend instead of writing them down. You are for sure to feel more uplifted after getting some of the negativity off your chest.
I hope that these suggestions can help you rejuvenate into feeling like yourself again. I know it is difficult to balance all the demands of college life- academics, athletics, clubs, Greek life, etc. but just remember that you are capable of it all. Rest is definitely an important factor in all of this as well and making sure you are taking care of yourself is always the number one priority. When things start to feel overwhelming, make a list of what you have to do (this usually calms me down and puts everything into perspective), do some of it, then take a break by doing one of the above items. Repeat as necessary until everything is done and you feel accomplished like the powerful person you are!