As term one nears the end, rapid declines in productivity as well as heightened feelings of stress are prevalent in Tuscarora students. In these times, it’s important for students to give themselves outlets to de-stress whenever these difficult feelings arise.
Light a candle
Aromatherapy has been proven to improve sleep, relieve anxiety, and of course, reduce stress. And now, as the weather cools and the leaves change, all kinds of cozy, fall scents are available in many products, including candles. Personally, my favorite candle at the moment is a Vanilla Pumpkin scented candle that I found at Target.
Meditate
Just 6-10 minutes of meditation can ease any feelings of stress or worry, even if it’s just for a short amount of time. I don’t meditate often, but when I do I love doing guided ones. In my opinion, it’s easier to focus during guided meditations rather than just independent, self-guided ones.
Write in a journal
Venting to yourself in the form of writing allows you to release any pent-up frustrations in a healthy way. Over the summer, I made a habit of writing in a journal every day. Even if I didn’t have anything to vent about, taking time to reflect over the day definitely kept me calm and stress-free. Also, one tip that I learned is to carry around a mini composition notebook (from any Dollar Store) in order to jot your feelings down at any time.
Watch a movie
Movies or any other sort of media can be used as a distraction or a pick-me-up! My favorite movie that I can watch all the time and never get tired of is “Carrie,” directed by Brian De Palma.
Take a walk
Connecting with nature by taking a walk can easily calm your nerves as well as generate positive energy. One of my favorite pastimes is taking walks along a trail with my mom, but walking by yourself can be just as beneficial.
Listen to music
Music, in my opinion, is the absolute best way to de-stress. Based on the fact that there’s a large variety of different genres, there is always more to discover. Music has the amazing ability to connect with individuals, in addition to bringing together people with similar tastes. Each season, one of my favorite things to do is create a playlist pertaining to the weather; at the moment my favorite “fall” song is “Love Songs on the Radio” by Mojave 3.
Make art
Along with journaling, making art is another form of releasing pent-up emotions, just in a more visual way. Whether it’s painting, drawing, making poetry or taking pictures, art has the ability to relax your mind in an amazing way.
All in all, school can be stressful and challenging, so give yourself a break! According to the JED foundation, “…feeling overwhelming school-related stress actually reduces your motivation to do the work…” so applying these methods to your everyday life can not only benefit your mental health, but your academics as well.
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