Monday, February 8, 2016

College Journey #9: The Winter Stretch & Stress Reduction

College Journey is a monthly post where I either talk about my own personal experience or some tips about college itself.  Last month I talked about when college isn't right for you.  This week I'm talking about the hardest part of the year (at least, that's what people have told me, and I believe them)- the dead of winter.

So, this year has actually been a really mild winter for me (I live in the midwest) and it actually feels a bit like spring lately.  Still, it seems like the days are dragging by and sometimes I'm barely hanging on, I'm so stressed out.  I talked about this a little in my weekly wrap up, but I was so stressed out that my side was actually hurting.  I've come up with some things you can do to help lower your stress:

Music
I, for one, really rely on music to relax.  My music is an expression of who I am, and I'm very picky about it.  I'm also one of those people who likes to listen to the same song(s) on indefinite repeat.  So, Thursday night, I plugged earbuds in, and listened to the Wicked soundtrack on repeat.  It was really nice and let me just zone out.

Coloring
Adult coloring books are all the rage, and man are they nice.  I have the Enchanted Forest coloring book here with me and the Harry Potter coloring book at home (I'm saving it for the summer when I reread the series for the first time since the movies came out).  I love coloring, it's really relaxing, and when you finish, you feel like you've created an original masterpiece.  I just use markers, but anything looks good with these designs.  Plus, they really aren't that expensive for the quality.

Reading and Writing
Well, duh, of course I'm going to recommend this.  They're both really good if you just need to escape the real world for a bit.  I always relax when I'm reading, even if it's a sad or extreme part of the story.  It's nice to live in another world and deal with problems that aren't your own.

Friends
Personally, I'm an introvert, so hanging out with friends actually makes me a bit more stressed.  But, for all you extrovert's out there, this is a great way to just heal and take a breather.

TV
This is another one that doesn't really work for me because, as much as I enjoy tv, it's harder for me to lose focus on the world around me when I'm just staring at the screen.  A close friend of mine, though, uses this as her main way to get rid of stress and it works really good for her.

Take a Break
I was so stressed out I just skipped class (I know, I'm a horrible person!) and didn't let myself think about homework for a whole day.  Do you know what?  It was one of the best days I've had in a while.  I'm one of those people who feels super stressed out when they skipped class, so I actually attended one (of my three) and it helped.  It made it feel less like I wasn't getting anything done and more like I was just giving myself a well-deserved break.

I hope this helps!  It's not just college advice, really, but a way to help reduce stress.  If you have anything that really helps you, let me know in the comments!

10 comments:

  1. My son just started college this past September, though it's an online college (Full Sail University). He has found himself really stressed.

    Music is one of the big things that seems to help him , that and taking a break and watching his favorite anime. His English course really stressed him out. That isn't one of his best subjects. And he isn't a big reader other than Manga. *didn't take that after me LOL)

    Great post though definitely going to be following you these posts might help me son . I get frustrated because I really can't help him other than be there for him.

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    1. College is such a stressful time! It's a hard adjustment.

      Music really is great, and I'm glad it's been helping him.

      Thank you for following! And, oftentimes, just being there for someone when they're stressed out is the best medicine :)

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  2. These are great tips! We all need breaks!

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  3. Awesome tips. My granddaughter starts college in the fall.

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    1. I wish her the best of luck! Thanks for stopping by :)

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  4. Great tips - college was definitely a stressful time and all of these definitely helped me, especially the music. As an English Lit major, I was always reading something for class, but I loved every moment I got the chance to read something I chose myself.

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    1. I never used to rely on music as much as I do now, but it's so great! Reading for yourself is probably my favorite pleasure!

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  5. Savings in Seconds sent me over to visit!

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