Welcome to the season of pumpkin spice and peace of mind! Fall is here, which means cozy drinks, cooler weather (hopefully), football games, club activities, holidays, and unfortunately, classes. As exciting as the beginning of a new semester can be, it can also be one of the most stressful times of the year. With so much happening at once, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and forget to take a moment for yourself.
As someone who gets stressed and overwhelmed pretty easily, I’ve tried just about everything to de-stress. I’ve searched through social media, scrolled through endless “self-care” lists, and even resorted to a little Google research. Some methods worked, while others absolutely didn’t. Through all that trial and error, I’ve found a few activities that genuinely help me relax and reset. So, if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed this semester, here are some of my favorite ways to find a little peace of mind.
Face Masks and Movie Nights
My go-to de-stressing activity is a good self-care face mask and a movie or TV night. As someone who tends to break out when I’m extremely stressed or overwhelmed, a little skincare moment paired with some screen time is basically my version of a detox.
For an enhanced experience, I recently discovered the magic of refrigerated face masks and eye masks. Once you feel a chilled face mask on your skin, you’ll never be able to go back to life without one.
Whatever you feel like watching, whether it’s your favorite comfort show, a nostalgic movie, or a fall favorites, slap on that face mask and just relax. The other day, I once again found myself rewatching The Vampire Diaries while having a face mask moment, and I loved every second of it! A couple of episodes to let the stress melt away, and maybe a few more because I obviously have a TV-watching addiction.
While you’re at it, grab your favorite candy, snacks, and anything else that makes you feel at home. Once your show or movie ends, hopefully you’ll feel a little more relaxed and refreshed, both in your face and in your mind. If you used a hydrating mask, I recommend rubbing in the excess, changing into your comfiest clothes, and getting ready for a good night’s sleep.
Touch Grass
One of my favorite stress-relieving activities is simply going outside and touching grass. Whether it’s for a while or just a hot minute, getting some fresh air can make a huge difference.
Being locked in a classroom, dorm, apartment, or library studying all day without seeing the outside world can seriously bring down your mood. Every yoga class I’ve ever been to seems to have one running theme: grounding yourself. Whether that means connecting with your surroundings or simply taking a moment to breathe, there’s something about getting outside that helps your body and mind relax.
You can also turn it into a nice, relaxing walk or even a hot girl walk if you’re looking for something a little more active. Feeling the wind, seeing the sun, looking at the sky, and surrounding yourself with greenery can create the perfect little reset.
Let yourself actually hear your surroundings and take in the moment, meaning, sadly, no main-character background music. Just you, nature, and a much-needed break from everything going on!
Reading
Another relaxing activity I love is reading, whether that’s on a Kindle or with an actual physical book. Unfortunately for me, I left my Kindle at home. A reader without their Kindle is truly a tragedy; insert sad face emoji here.
There’s something so relaxing about having a book in your hands, getting lost in an interesting story, and listening to some light jazz in the background. Honestly, that is my definition of a perfect cozy night.
Snuggle into your designated reading area, throw on an oversized hoodie, grab a blanket, and settle into your comfy, cozy reading time. If you can, light a candle or turn on your candle warmer for an even more enhanced experience. Bonus points if it’s a fall-scented candle.
Working Out
This one is for all the gym girls out there. We already know that working out can be a great stress reliever. Whether you’re doing your most relaxed routine or an intense workout that leaves you questioning every decision you’ve ever made, you usually feel at least a little better afterward.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed and just need a distraction, working out can be a healthy way to redirect that energy. You don’t have to spend hours at the gym, either. A quick workout, some stretching, or even walking around campus can be enough to give your brain a break from whatever has been stressing you out.
Word Searches
I know doing word searches sounds like such an older-person activity, but hear me out. As someone who’s chronically online before going to sleep, doing a word search instead of doomscrolling before bed has made a world of difference. I’m talking the ones from the dollar store with the giant font. I highly recommend them.
Doomscrolling before bed always tires out my eyes, but somehow, I continue doing it anyway (I might have an addiction). I’ve been trying to slowly ease myself away from the doomscrolling by incorporating word searches into my nighttime routine. I’ll start by doing one while listening to a video and eventually switch to something I don’t actually need to watch, so I can give my eyes a break.
And honestly? We’re doing pretty well so far.
If word searches aren’t your thing, find something else you enjoy doing that doesn’t require staring at your phone. Whether it’s coloring, journaling, doing a puzzle, or listening to music, give your eyes and your brain a little break from the screen.
Pumpkin Spice & Peace of Mind
College can be overwhelming, especially at the beginning of a new semester when it feels like everything is happening at once. While we can’t completely eliminate stress (unfortunately), we can find little ways to give ourselves a break and make things feel a little more manageable.
Whether you’re putting on a face mask, touching grass, getting lost in a book, hitting the gym, or doing a random word search from the dollar store, I hope you find something that helps you slow down and take a breath.
Wishing everyone a happy, cozy, and hopefully non-overwhelming semester!
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