Finals season got ya feeling down? You’re not alone.
Some of these suggestions may seem very basic, but we all need a reminder every once and a while. Even from personal experience… when you’re feeling sad or just in a bad mood, our brain can make us forget all the positive things we can do to try and lift our spirits. At times, we can self-sabotage and only think of the negatives in life. Maybe with this list in front of you, your next rough patch won’t be as rough.
- Drive around and listen to / scream to music
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This one is a personal favorite of mine. As a fan of metal music, this is my go-to way to quickly relieve tension. Just the act of taking a nice drive (or walk) around your neighborhood or campus while you’re listening to your favorite music is so soothing. As long as you’re being safe, you can’t go wrong. Add a few Slipknot songs and the moonlight, and you’re golden! You could even kick this up a notch by adding a destination that will brighten your mood. Maybe grab a treat from your favorite restaurant or coffee shop? Or go buy yourself something nice? :)
- Rant to TikTok
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I believe I saw someone doing this on TikTok and I jotted down the idea, but this sounds like a great way to vent if you’ve got no one around to talk to or just want it to be confidential. There are many different tweaks or different ways you can try this idea. The original video I saw was someone recording themselves venting on a TikTok video but they muted/put music over them talking or sped the video up so you couldn’t tell what they were saying. This way, no one has to know what you’re saying. You could also just record yourself on your phone if you want to take TikTok out of the equation. Then there’s always the old fashion way… journaling or ranting in your phone’s notes app.
- Plan a trip or activity
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This is such a fun thing to do, but I always seem to forget about it! Even if you are not able to go anywhere in the near future, it can still be exciting to plan a trip that you’ll go on one day. You could make a Pinterest board for it or maybe even a vision board. You could make a potential packing list, as well as a list of things to do once you get there. The possibilities are endless. I’m hoping this activity will give you even the slightest glimmer of hope that better days will come. I know for me personally, I have been planning out my room for my apartment next year. It’s starting to get me excited for the following school year, especially since I’m not school’s biggest fan right now with finals coming up. I like to make lists on amazon and get ideas, again, from Pinterest for decorating inspiration. I’ve even been sketching out possible layouts.
- Have some self-care time!
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Self-care is very important and should not be neglected! Even though we are nearing the end of the semester, we still need to make time for ourselves! You can make a day out of it or just schedule in an hour for some well-deserved alone time. You can do little things such as take a shower, cut and paint your nails, do some face care, brush your teeth, shave, do a hair or face mask, do your makeup, etc. My personal favorite is taking a bath with candles and the works. Self-care doesn’t even have to be beauty-related; you just need to do something this is recharging your positive energy!
- Spend time with family and friends
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This one isn’t much of a surprise, but spending time with people that make you feel loved can be really helpful. When you sit there and beat yourself up in your head all day, you need someone that can give you some affection every once in a while. Whether it’s talking on the phone or going home for the weekend, reach out if you need someone.
- Clean Up!
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Yet another surprise… clean your room!! I already mentioned cleaning yourself up in the self-care section, but cleaning up your living space is another piece of that. If you have a cluttered space, you may get a cluttered mind. I know when I’m feeling upset, piles of clothes and trash in my room can just make me feel worse about myself. Do yourself a solid and take that stack of cups to the sink today! :)
- Go to bed.
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That’s it. Go to bed. Sometimes all we need is a new day and things will seem even the tiniest bit easier.
If I helped at least one person with these ideas, my job is done. Once again, even if these are common ideas, sometimes you just need a reminder and a little push. Take some time for yourself today. You’ve got this!