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With midterms right behind us, I’m realizing that finals are going to be coming up faster than I think. That being said, I am now taking more time to focus on myself and really make sure I’m managing my time and my stress levels well.
Personally, I am one of those people who avoids things that stress me out until it becomes unavoidable. Between taking 16 credit hours this semester, getting ready for my summer courses and my responsibilities for my sorority, there is always something to work on. When it becomes too much, I will always find an excuse to leave my work and put it off even longer. This is really bad for my mental health, and I’ve recently started working on it through time management.
With all the stress, I know I need to take time for myself out of my busy schedule. One thing I love doing is my nails. I recently got a gel light, and it’s my newest beauty obsession. Other times, I’ll self-tan. I always feel so much more confident and ready to get some work done when I’m tan. Sometimes I’ll make plans for a date night with my friends. Movies, “The Bachelor” (let’s not talk about Matt’s season right now) and some snacks always make for a good source of stress relief. If I need a more spontaneous outing, I’ll make time to go get coffee before my classes. These allow me to look forward to something during the week and take a breather.
Another thing I do is work out. Yes, I know it’s a little bit cliché, but I feel like when I workout in the morning, it lets me get a motivational start to my day. Additionally, when I start my day early, I have the time to get my work done. This leads to less stress as the week goes on. It boosts serotonin levels as well, which let’s be honest, we all need sometimes!
When I start working out more, I find in times of stress I tend to eat healthier. I don’t want to eat junk and feel mentally exhausted all at once. When stressed, I find myself eating more fruit. P.S. The Fruit Stand in Acorn Alley? AMAZING! Additionally, I’ll focus on cooking my meals instead of eating out, and I make sure I’m getting all my necessary nutrients.
Making lists is one of the last big things that helps me relieve stress. If I know everything that is going on for all my different classes or activities, I can put them all in order, allowing me to see my day and know exactly what I need to get done. I don’t just make lists for classes though; if you can make a list out of it, I’ll do it. Grocery lists, wish lists, future plans, pretty much anything. Writing lists helps me calm down.
We all become stressed with midterms, classwork and extracurricular activities. If you find yourself getting overwhelmed, take a page from my book and try out some of my go to stress relievers.
