Finals are now in full force, the weather is getting colder, the days are getting shorter and it feels like we just never have enough time in the day to get things done. Essentially, it’s the part of the semester where it can be hard to function without some time to relax. With such busy schedules it can be difficult to find time for yourself, but in order to survive the rest of the semester, it is crucial to learn some tips for taking care of yourself.
Spend a weekend night in.
“Me-time” is extremely underrated. The party culture at colleges, including Northeastern, makes us think that we should be going out and doing something exciting every night of the weekend. But taking a night for yourself to relax and have some personal time is crucial and is a great destresser. To start, put your phone away so that you don’t see any Snapchat stories and feel FOMO. Aside from that, use the night as a chance to treat yourself: face masks, Netflix, bake cookies or order in some dessert, and anything else that makes you feel pampered. It’s the perfect chance to recover from a long and stressful week, while not spending money on Ubers by going out.
Buy a diffuser.
This is an absolute game changer. First of all, diffusers are even more worthwhile in college dorms because when you are living in such small shared spaces the scents from the essential oils spread throughout your whole dorm. You can buy as many essential oils as you want and can combine them for different purposes or scents. Personally, before bed, I use lavender and eucalyptus because those are the most calming, but during the day I use a fall mix to make my room match the season. Another plus is that they’re not too expensive, you can find lots of options on Amazon ranging from $15 to $30. All these oils have benefits for your mind and body that can help calm you and make your room feel cozier during stressful evenings.
Spend time outside.
This is a time-sensitive one because once it gets too cold, being outside more than necessary becomes unbearable. But, on sunny days try to spend as much time outside as possible and get your Vitamin D fill. Whether you choose to study, eat lunch or go on a run, appreciating the Boston scenery is always a good calmer. Running outside is especially beneficial because you can exercise and let off steam, while also getting fresh air and getting to know Boston better.
Try some daily meditation.
Just because we are in college and have roommates, does not mean that daily meditation is not feasible. Thankfully, there are tons of free apps that you can easily download that offer daily meditation sessions and most of them have super quick sessions you can do in the morning before class. Just plug some headphones in and sit in your room with no distractions and give yourself a calm and clear-headed morning. Some good apps to try are “Breathe” or “Calm.” If you aren’t into meditating, try mindful breathing. One way is 4,7,8 breathing, which means breathe in for 4 seconds, hold the breath for 7 seconds and then breathe out for 8 seconds. Mindful breathing is also a good way to start your day off in a relaxed way.
Turn off your phone.
At least 1 hour per day without your phone is a super easy goal. If you don’t have the willpower yourself, download an app called “Flora,” where you set a timer for an amount of time without checking your phone. The catch is you can set a dollar amount as a consequence, so if you check your phone during that time that amount of money will be taken out of your bank account! You can use the app without the money component as well. Regardless, giving yourself at least one hour per day without a phone full of constant reminders, text messages, obligations and phone calls can help you to unplug for a little bit and can be better served to spend time with friends or for personal downtime.
Read.
Reading is another great way to unplug and let go of the day-to-day stresses. In particular, positivity books or self-help books are super popular lately and can be more helpful in calming you down during a very busy week. “#Girlboss” is a super motivating book that talks about the law of attraction and manifesting for your future, both great ideas to learn about and maybe start implementing into your daily routine. Another great book is “You are a Badass”, a self-help book full of stories and advice about creating a life and identity that you love. Any book you can find is a great start, but motivating books can help to cheer up your mood and offer some guidance on making your semester the best it can be.
Join more clubs.
Being in college gives us so many opportunities to find communities and spaces that feel like home to us, so we should definitely not be letting them go to waste. A lot of the time it seems like we just join clubs that will look good on our resumes, but with so many different clubs on campus, try to get involved in something new and more relaxing that interests you. Whether that means something you know you already love or a club you heard is interesting but never had the guts to try, just do what you can to find more communities that calm you and support you.
Find a new hobby.
This goes along with the idea of “me-time,” but hobbies are something that should be integrated into our weekly schedules! It may be hard to find the time, especially during midterm season, but finding time to do the things we love can make stressful weeks seem less dreary and will give you something to look forward to. Some good places to start: painting, drawing, baking, cooking, exercising. Find something that calms you down or distracts you. This can also be a great activity to take part in with a group of friends; maybe make it a weekend tradition.
Self-care is important. Knowing your limits and giving yourself well deserved breaks is something that we, as college students, could all use a little more practice doing. So, for the rest of the semester, give yourself some breaks and make it a priority to schedule time for yourself and eventually a stressful week might not seem as bad because you’ll have easy ways to calm down and something to look forward to. Even if you don’t follow all of these tips, just make sure to take care of yourself during this busy fall season.