Recently, we’ve all been extremely stressed out. It’s gotten to that point in the semester where we are having midterms and are getting back into the swing of things. It is also that point in the semester when we may have done not-so-great on an exam we studied for days for. October is one of the most stressful times of the year. That is why we are here to tell you how to de-stress and calm down in order to put your life back on track.
1. RELAX
This may sound really obvious, but not enough people are relaxing as often as we should. School is in full swing and we are starting to realize some classes are way harder than others. You need to take a deep breath and watch some Netflix for an hour or so. We promise, it will NOT kill you.
2. Meditate
Meditation is becoming more normalized for a lot of people because the stressors we have in life are becoming more prominent. If you take a few minutes out of every day to meditate, we promise it will change your life. Inhale for seven seconds, hold it for two seconds and then exhale for eight seconds. Think of nothing but your breathing. Doing this will help you release any stress you have for a few minutes and will help you acknowledge your feelings and emotions. This helps you relax and realize you are more than the test you have tomorrow.
3. Do NOT stress eat
When you stress eat, you are treating the food you eat, which is probably something unhealthy, as a depressant. You are coping with your stress by eating vast amounts of food that negatively affect your body and your life. Not only will this increase your chances of becoming unhealthy, it will also increase your chances of having more acne. And let’s be honest, acne does not help your stress levels, it increases it.
4. Find healthy outlets
Whether this is going to the gym or simply taking care of your “girly” needs like painting nails and doing face masks, you need to be healthy. Being healthy makes you happy and increases your dopamine, which will increase your energy. By increasing your energy, you become a more driven and successful person and you will get more work done than you had expected.
5. Hang out with your friends
By limiting yourself to only studying, and not hanging out with your friends, you are putting yourself in an unhealthy situation. You may be isolating yourself from your surroundings and the social aspect that is needed in your life, according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Take an hour or two to hang out with your friends, and not stress about the future.
6. Don’t forget to have fun!
Although it may not seem like it now, but having fun is one of the many things you DO need in your life. In order to live the healthy lives we all strive for, we need to have fun for a few hours out of the week. It IS okay to forget about your responsibilities for a little bit.
Stressing is obviously not something we enjoy. It causes unhealthy events to occur and which put us in an even more stressful environment.
To that exam you have tomorrow, you WILL kill it. And if you don’t, you will kill the next one. Professors are NOT out to get you, even though it may seem like it sometimes.
To your choice to hang out with your friends or study for three more hours, take ONE hour off and enjoy yourself! Sometimes we need to let our guard down and just relax with friends for a little!
To all the stressors in your life, remember, it is NOT the end of the world. Tomorrow, or next week, or next month, you will be better, and happy you studied. But, do not forget about your life and well-being in the meantime.
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