- Light a Candle and Meditate
Meditating may not sound like something you would enjoy, but don’t knock it until you try it. There are plenty of apps, personally I use Sanvello, which can help guide you to reflect, breathe, and take a moment to yourself. I highly recommend mediating during this time because of the stress and anxiety that surrounds the pandemic. Meditating allows a break from all of that. The smell of the candle is not only pleasant but can help ground you if your stress becomes overwhelming.
- Journal
Journaling is another way to step back in order to reflect on your thoughts, and how you are feeling. You can try bullet journaling to let out your creative side, or you can simply vent out your thoughts onto a piece of paper. There is no right or wrong way to journal; it is simply a space to physically express yourself. It is never good to keep your thoughts bottled up, and if you feel as though you have no one to talk to, journaling is a great way to let out your thoughts without having to share them to anyone else.
- Dance Party
Although it may seem silly, dancing is a great way to have fun and let loose. You can put on your favorite tunes, grab some friends, do it by yourself, and forget about all of the work you have to do for a bit. Dancing and singing at the top of your lungs is a great stress reliever, because you can vent out all of your feelings while jamming to your favorite songs. Spotify has plenty of mood playlists that provide specific songs to match however you’re feeling.
- Clean Your Room
At first glance, cleaning your room may not seem like a form of self-care. However, cleaning your room can help provide you a “clean” head space. Once you feel more organized physically, it may be easier to organize the tasks you have to do and organize your thoughts. Similarly, to the aforementioned ideas, cleaning your room is also a break from your homework and your phone, so it allows you to focus on your thoughts and the task at hand.
- FaceTime or Call Family and Friends
Fulfilling your social needs are just as important as fulfilling your physical needs. Calling a family member or friend, whether they’re at home or also at school, can boost how you are feeling. By calling someone you care about, you can talk about the stress you’re feeling, or you can talk about fun things and catch up to take your mind off of negative thoughts and feelings.
