As midterms approach, juggling school work with time to relax can become more challenging than ever. However, creating variation in your everyday life or giving yourself small events to look forward to can help ease that burden. Here are my 10 favorite ways to reduce stress, all of which are easy and tangible!
- Schedule lunch with a friend you haven’t caught up with in a while.
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I often find myself running into someone, saying “We should catch up sometime!”, and then never reaching out. Rather than leaving that loose end hanging, text someone you don’t see every day and ask them to grab lunch! Whether that person is a friend from the beginning of the year, a member of a club or organization you’re in, or an upperclassman from your hometown, that scheduled lunch will give you something rewarding to look forward to throughout the week.
- Go to the fitness center, even if it’s just a simple incline walk.
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Research has proven time and time again that exercising releases endorphins. Plus, the feeling of accomplishment after a workout may motivate you to continue working on other projects. And don’t feel pressure to perform an intense lifting session – even a quick walk or jog on the treadmill provides a great stress-relieving break.
- Purchase a planner to write important dates in.
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Have you ever felt like you’re forgetting something, but you can’t put your finger on what it is you’re forgetting? That sense of disorganization translates to schoolwork, but a planner can alleviate it. I still am a big fan of a classic physical paper planner to record important test dates, meetings, and homework assignments in. It keeps me feeling organized and helps me note events I would otherwise forget.
- Make going to bed special, whether that’s wearing a matching pajama set or brewing a cup of nighttime tea.
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It’s easy to reduce sleep to a mere transition time between completing work at night and attending classes in the morning. But I’ve found that an effort to make unwinding for the night special helps me wake up feeling refreshed. Try making a cup of herbal tea (you can find a great assortment of tea bags at Frank), or wear a matching pajama set! Those little details will allow you to feel put together as you end the day, setting the tone for the next morning.
- Try a change of scenery.
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Falling into the same routine of locations can become mundane. Instead, make an active effort to seek out a new place to study. The Persson sky bridge has beautiful views of Taylor Lake, especially during the sunset. Or if you don’t often trek to the library, visit the Reading Room for some natural light. Even if you’re not discovering a new location, switching up where you regularly study can provide a refreshing change of pace.
- FaceTime a sibling or friend from home.
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As much as I love my college friends, sometimes talking to a sibling or friend from home provides a nice break from the Colgate bubble. I always feel refreshed after speaking to someone who I haven’t been able to see in a while, and hearing their stories or drama from another school always serves as a fun distraction. You’ll feel rewarded after catching up with them, and that can help offset stress like nothing else.
- Do some type of spa-like treatment, such as giving yourself a manicure.
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Ah, the classic “self-care” recommendation. Whether you set aside time to do a face mask or paint your nails, miniature “spa treatments” will leave you feeling put-together and relaxed. Even better, you can invite a few friends to join you and turn it into a fun night in!
- Choose a day to wear a put-together outfit and lay it out the night before.
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I often feel my best when I’m wearing an outfit I’m proud of. The confidence boost puts me in a cheerful mood, and that spills into my overall motivation to complete work. So choose a night to set out a cute outfit for the next day, down to the accessories, and wake up the next morning with something to look forward to!
- Delete social media apps during the week that cause you to waste time (no shame in re-downloading them during the weekend, though).
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If you find yourself wasting several hours a day on social media – I know I’m guilty of swiping my afternoons away on Tik Tok – sometimes deleting those apps during the week can free up a surprising amount of time. Don’t restrict yourself to never using them again; after all, there’s no shame in wasting some weekend time on your phone. Still, during the week, deleting distracting social media apps can provide major stress relief and allow you to complete work more efficiently.
- Attend office hours.
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This last recommendation may seem obvious, but office hours can be difficult to motivate yourself to attend. I’m guilty of skipping them out of pure laziness myself. Still, every time I’ve dragged myself there, I leave feeling glad I stopped by. Taking time to clarify in-class concepts will help you understand what you’re confused about – and what you didn’t even realize you needed help with. Plus, building a relationship with your professor can open up doors for future opportunities. So make that hike up to McGregory or Lathrop; I promise it’s worth it!
Hopefully these tips can help ease the pressure of high-workload weeks. Just remember that stress comes in waves; it will pass by, and you’ll reach a point where your current assignments will become memories of the past. Good luck to everyone with their first exams of the term – we’ve all got this!