With finals over and a whole month to relax, break is the perfect time to take care of yourself and figure out what you need.
1. Journal
Whether you decide to start keeping a regular journal or just open a fresh word document and start typing away, take some time to sit down and gather your thoughts. Set a timer for 10 minutes and don’t stop writing until it’s over, writing whatever comes to mind without worrying about anything else besides getting your thoughts down on paper. Then, read over what you wrote and allow yourself to analyze the things that you said. The things you say when you’re not really thinking about it will give insight into the things that are on your mind, things you might not have even known were bothering you. You can stop here, continue with this “free writing” technique, or write down your feelings on what you’ve just revealed. Getting it all out on paper (or screen) will open your eyes to things you may need to address about your life.
2. Treat Your Body
You’re probably feeling a little bit stressed out about all of the things you wrote down, so take some time to do something relaxing. Allow yourself time to indulge in a hot bath, a massage, or whatever makes your body feel relaxed and refresh. You deserve time to take care of yourself, and when your body feels good, your mind does too. Taking the time to give your body a little pick-me-up will allow your mind to wander and give you the mental boost you need to put some more thought into how you can improve your lifestyle.
3. Unplug
Whether it’s for only an hour or a whole day, try spending some time away from your phone, computer, TV, tablet, etc. Use that time without distractions to read, write, draw, take a walk, or chat with a friend. You’ll be surprised at how refreshing it can be to feel like you’re “off the grid,” once you get over the initial panic and discomfort of not having your phone on you.
4. Cry
No, seriously, hear me out. I spend a lot of time trying not to cry in inconvenient situations, but letting yourself feel emotions as you feel them helps you figure out what kinds of things trigger these responses, and leave you better prepared to deal with them properly instead of pushing it off for so long that you break down and start crying about eight different things at once.
5. Make a Change
It doesn’t have to be a complete lifestyle change, but switching up your daily routine a little bit will allow you to figure out what works best for you so that you can live every day to the fullest. Whether it’s actually eating breakfast, going to bed half an hour earlier, or trying five minutes of meditation in the morning, making little changes is an easy way to feel like a whole new you.
Follow these steps and you’ll start 2017 feeling fantastic!