In my frantic preparation for my first year of college, I read a book given to me by a friend: How to Win at College by Cal Newport. Despite the fact that the book is clearly targeted toward white frat boys and there is a generous sprinkle of elitism peppering every page, there were a few items on the list of 75 that seemed particularly applicable to my life, one of them being the Sunday Ritual. Since arriving on campus for my first year, I have cultivated my own Sunday Ritual, and have found it to be one of the most important parts of my week because it gets me up and productive, calm and centered, and is a constant to look forward to in the midst of my ever-changing, unpredictable college life.
The purpose of the ritual is simple: It is meant to be a sort of “reset” button on your week, your mood, your stress or anything else. It is meant to provide constancy, be something to look forward to and be a time where the ever-present pressures of college can disappear, if only for an hour or two. While the ritual is important in its benefits for your mental health, the time following it, if used well, is just as important. Once you emerge from your Sunday routine renewed and refreshed, it’s time to head to your favorite study spot and start working. Then, while all of your friends are still hungover or asleep, you are ahead (or at least less behind than you were before) on work, and you’ve already done some self-care on top of it.
Though I call it a Sunday ritual, it can actually happen at any point in the week and at any time of the day (or night): Do it whenever you need to reset and refresh your mindset so you feel ready to tackle your work. If it’s Wednesday, you’re in a bad mood, you’re behind on your reading and you don’t know where to turn, turn to your ritual. Then head to the library with a clear head, and get started on your work. I promise, it will be so much easier to be productive when you’ve taken some time to yourself first.
Below are some ideas for how and when to institute your own Sunday ritual so you can begin your weeks recharged, refreshed and with a little productivity.
1. Get active
Take a walk in the park, jog by the water, go to a yoga or meditation class. Do anything that feels like self-care, and do not do it if it feels like a chore. Your ritual should not feel like an obligation; it should feel like a reward. Getting those endorphins flowing will pull you out of your slump and jumpstart your day, or at the very least, it will provide you with a much-needed change of pace.
2. Talk to someone outside of your college community
Chances are, you have some amazing people around you at college; but the college bubble can make it feel like you can never retreat without missing out. Talking to people from home—your family, friends from home or a mentor—can be an incredible way to remember that there is life outside of your college world. Do this. Venting to or asking questions of people from outside of the college bubble is refreshing, insightful and important to maintaining your sanity. Also, calling your mom is important. You don’t realize how much it helps until you finally do it after far too long.
3. Treat yourself
Seriously. Whether it be buying a coffee and croissant rather than going for the usual dining hall oatmeal or sitting down to paint your nails, a tiny bit of pampering before starting work can make a big difference in your mindset. It serves as a sort of preemptive reward, and puts you in a good mood, making it more likely you’ll work with enthusiasm and energy.
Use these as a jumping off point, combine several approaches or do something different each time. The key is consistency in practice, not in content. Different things will work for different people, so experiment!