Normally we are cool, calm and collected collegiettes. We breeze through the week, effortlessly balancing our academic and social lives.
Then, the inevitable happens. It’s Sunday night, you just finished watching the new episodes of Desperate Housewives and Pan Am, and you decide to prepare for the week ahead.
After placing tiny check marks in your planner next to all the goals you accomplished this past week, you turn the page and your stomach drops.
Squinting to decipher some meaning through the scribble marks and smeared ink, you finally come to that miserable realization: It’s your Hell Week.
Suddenly, your club meetings and gym sessions are fighting to survive between exams, review sessions, paper deadlines and project due dates.
The only logical explanation is that all of your professors must have gathered together one night in a dimly-lit cave, cackled over your syllabi and strategically planned (Insert your name here)’s Worst Week Ever.
But before you hyperventilate and decide to chain yourself to a table in the library, try these tips to go from Hell Week to Hell Yes, I-can’t-wait-to-do-this-every Week!
Manicure Monday
Whether you decide to splurge for a professional or simply do your own at home, a manicure is the perfect way to brighten up that dreaded first day of the week. Plus, certain colors are proven to reduce stress and boost your mood.
You’ll probably be spending a lot of time this week typing/writing/texting your friends to complain, so why not give your eyes a little visual treat with a mani?
Blue: This is not the time to go all out Avicii-style with an electric shade, but with the right hue (think soft, neutral), blue can have a very calming effect.
Try: OPI Havana Dreams
Lavender: Purple, a color often associated with royalty, represents wisdom, peace and strength. Lighter shades such as lavender can offer a sense of balance and serenity.
Try: Essie Nice is Nice
Pink: Besides being one of the most popular colors in the nail department, pink is believed to soothe energy and bring a sense of tranquility.
Try: Revlon Pink Lingerie
Green: Ah, the color of nature, something you may not be seeing enough of during a week with your head in the books. Green promotes harmony and can reduce anxiety. Just be careful not to choose a shade that looks like a fungus growing on your fingers.
Try: China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint
Time-Out Tuesday
You’re busy. This week especially, your mind is probably on overdrive. However, studies show that doing nothing (or doing mindless activity) for just 15 minutes can greatly reduce stress levels.
So there are two options for a Tuesday time-out. First, you could literally do nothing. Open your window, kick back on your couch and let your mind wander (and not to your to-do list or review sheet.)
If lying in silence seems a bit lackluster for you, explore the Internet. Many of us never seem to make it past Facebook and Twitter, but there are so many other fun sites out there.
My personal favorite is StumbleUpon.com, which lets you select your interests and then brings you to various different websites that relate to what you like with just the click of a button. Another great site is Pinterest.com, which allows you to create online vision boards, choosing pins from various categories. Search anything from fashion to fitness to DIY crafts; discover what inspires you. Finding new things is an instant mood booster, and a great way to remember there’s more out there than STAT 200.
Comedy Wednesday
We’ve heard it said again and again; laughter is the best medicine. Genuine laughter helps boost your health by kicking your immune system into high gear. So don’t even pretend you don’t have enough time to take a half hour out of your night to watch one hilarious TV show. Modern Family, anyone?
Even if you don’t think you need a break, your brain probably does. Your brain can only transfer a certain amount of information at once from your short-term memory to your long-term memory, so cramming too much information in without taking a break will actually end up backfiring in the long run.
Better health, better mood and better grades? Comedy Wednesday sounds like a win-win-win!
Tone Up Thursday
Well girls, you’ve almost made it to the weekend. Take today to fit in a really good work-out. Exercise has countless benefits for both your mental and physical health. On top of improving your mood by releasing endorphins, exercise also may decrease stress-related memory loss by speeding up the production of new nerve cells in the area of your brain that processes memories.
Not to mention we may have eaten one too many chips during that cram sesh last night…
A solid sweat session would probably do us all some good when it comes to squeezing in that little skirt tomorrow night.
Bust a Move Friday
Congratulations, you made it through the week and deserve to let loose on the dance floor. Whether this dance floor is out at the club or in the privacy of your own bedroom, it’s time to pump up the tunes and break out your inner Britney.
Dancing along to music is a universal pleasure booster because it puts your mind at ease and distracts you from life’s daily tasks. And hello, dancing is an awesome way to burn calories as well.
Now, go enjoy the rest of your weekend!