November at Vanderbilt. It means cooler weather, shorter days, and longer lines at Starbucks (apparently they have something called a pumpkin spice latte?). But even with all of these great things, November also gifts us with a little thing called stress. With all of the assignments, meetings, and fear of impending finals, stress is something that many of us struggle to manage towards the end of the semester. In an attempt to help you reclaim your life, below I will provide you with a few tips on how to keep yourself sane!
Exercise
I know. Who has the time? But if you make the time to engage in physical activity, even if only for a short moment every day, I promise you’ll feel so much better. Can’t make it to the Rec Center? YouTube is a great resource for quick, energizing workout videos!
Hobbies
Do you like to read? Sing? Draw? Whatever your favorite hobbies are, make time to indulge in them! A great way to relieve stress is by doing something that you enjoy, so try penciling some “me time” into your schedule and begin reaping the benefits.
Sleep
In times of great stress, one of the things that people tend to sacrifice is their sleep. When your body isn’t rested enough, your stress level goes through the roof! I know when I fail to get an adequate amount of sleep for my body, my head aches and my eyes twitch and I feel like a failure. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Aiming for a few more hours of sleep each night will greatly improve your performance in school, subsequently lowering your stress levels.
Now get out there and show that stress who’s boss!