From arriving on campus just two months ago, I’ve realized that college is a place where you’re always moving and thinking. It’s a constant struggle to find the perfect balance between studying, socializing, and sleeping — and I’m not sure if there even is one! Between all these daily activities, it’s so easy to be overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. Yet, stress is something we can actually control and channel to better tackle everything that comes at us! Below I’ve compiled ways you can de-stress and stay healthy in a tense college environment:
1. Pamper yourself
Make sure you take some time in your morning or night routine to care for your body. Take a nice shower, apply your favorite moisturizer, do a face mask, paint your nails — whatever it is that makes you feel good, do it! Trust me, putting in the extra effort to boost your confidence (and have glowy skin) is going to put you in the right mindset to do well.
2. Sleep in
Sleep is crucial to our health and well-being, but it’s also something college students struggle to get enough of. Make sure that you get at least 7 hours of sleep a night, and allocate time over the weekends to catch up on missed sleep. Take power naps throughout the day to recharge! Being tired throughout the day not only increases stress but also decreases your attentiveness and ability to perform your best on homework and exams.
3. Fitness
Sumers Rec Center has so many different types of fitness classes for students, so take advantage of them! Scheduling fitness classes into your daily routine are going to help release all that stress and refocus your mind. In my experience, Zumba does just that! It’s upbeat and high-energy dances help me to get rid of any negative thoughts that may prevent me from being productive.
4. Netflix nights
After finishing some homework, treat yourself to your favorite show or movie on Netflix. It’ll keep you from stressing too much about the tasks of the next day. Focusing your mind solely on work can be counterproductive, so make sure you take the time to unplug!
5. Acknowledge the stress
Finally, acknowledge that it’s okay to be stressed and it’s also okay to do the things you need to do to take care of your body and mind. Deciding to just “live with it” will deter you from doing your best on whatever you’re worried about — so the first step is merely realizing that it exists and that you can do things to relieve it.
By Sofia Aguilar