I quickly hustle to my next class. After hours of studying, my brain hurts, and the circles under my eyes are so dark you would think I’m best friends with a raccoon. I am exhausted, irritable and actively trying not to cry.
Midterms are one of the roughest weeks in college: exams crammed back-to-back on top of other assignments, jobs, extracurriculars and maintaining a social life so you don’t go insane. For some reason, junior year is one of the toughest. I felt like all hope was lost and that I would continue studying alone for hours on end. But then, as I was trying to recall all the vocabulary words I’d written on flashcards, someone walked by me with a smile and said, “I love your outfit!”
I stopped in my tracks. That one comment and smile made my whole week. Suddenly, my assignments weren’t as demanding and I felt joy creeping into my sleep-deprived body.
Finally. Some dopamine. Welcome back, babe, it’s been a while!
However, this interaction made me realize that I wasn’t taking the best care of myself. We can’t keep running off Alani and pasta forever. There has to be something we look forward to during our midterms, or just a bad week in general.
Whether you decide to partake in an activity that takes 75-minutes or make a simple change in your morning routine, dopamine determines our motivation, cognition and outlook on ourselves.
Feel free to return to my “dopamine cookbook” whenever you need ideas of how to manage your stress and find those little joys to carry you from one commitment to the next!
APPETIZERS: quick energy boosters and resets!
- Fill out a 5-minute gratitude journal
- Make a fun drink or snack
- Stand outside and face the sun, like a sunflower. Trust me, it works brilliantly.
- Play your favorite song
- Wave and smile at a stranger!
ENTREES: immersive and fulfilling, taking a bit more time to cook up, yet worth the time!
- Bake that recipe that’s been sitting in your saved folder
- Try a new workout class! Push yourself outside your comfort zone and enjoy the discomfort
- Go on a walk outside
- Meet up with your friend(s)
- Call a family member you haven’t talked to in a while
SIDES: to pair with those tasks we don’t want to do, but will make them more enjoyable!
- Listen to a podcast
- Light a candle
- Cozy up with a fluffy blanket
- Stretch those tired muscles
- Do a small puzzle – crosswords will always be my favorite
DESSERTS: indulge and treat yourself, you deserve it!
- Watch reality TV
- Grab frozen yogurt and make the biggest creation you can
- Go online shopping
- Order takeout
- Rot and have a movie marathon
Midterms are a difficult time for everyone. Give yourself grace and enjoy these boosts for extra motivation!