Put your health & happiness first
As school begins to kick into full gear, we will start slipping away from our regular habits to accommodate late-night studying, early-morning classes, and everything in between. Sometimes we slip away from good habits and by finals we aren’t taking care of ourselves the way we’d like. Self-care must be emphasized, perhaps most of all during midterms and finals when we are stressed and most need to relax. These are five ways to take care of yourself during the semester, no matter how busy everything else becomes.
1. Take occasional breaks
For every 45 minutes of work you do, aim to take a 15-minute break. This will give you time to relax your brain, so you can start to work again refreshed and avoid feeling overwhelmed. During this 15-minute break, you can try to walk around campus or even by your house just to relax your muscles. You can also try to do some stretches since you would have been sitting for so long and you don’t want your body feeling sore from constant sitting. It’s important that you make sure your body is always energetic and not tired since this will make you tired and unmotivated to continue studying.
2. Ensure a proper balance
Often, we want to accomplish so much that we unthinkingly will keep adding to our to-do lists, which in turn causes us more stress. If there is too much on your plate and you feel as if you are not able to give your best effort towards all of your commitments, then it is time to prioritize and take a step back from some things. Your body will be over-exerted from the excessive amount of activities and academics, and you will start to ignore them because you’re so overwhelmed. It’s best to realize what your top priorities are and stick to them.
3. Time management
Everyone you ever talked to in order to get some advice on college and academics probably told you to manage your time properly. They’re not wrong. Check your schedule and see if you can fit some studying time or time to work on assignments in between your classes throughout the day. Therefore, at the end of the day you don’t have as much to do.
4. De-stress yourself
I’m sure that almost everyone has a hobby or passion that they like to keep going back to because it makes them feel relaxed. That is important because when you have some free time, it’s good to de-stress yourself by doing something you love. If that’s fitness, then go to the gym a few times a week. Working out is known to make you feel more productive, therefore after your workouts you’ll be motivated to do more studying.
5. Eating well
It’s so important to eat well throughout the day and while you’re studying just to make sure you’re getting the nutrients you need to keep going. During your study breaks, try to have veggies or some kind of fruit, like an apple. This will keep you energized as you study. Another thing you can do to ensure that you’re eating well is start packing meals and snacks for school at home. It can be tempting to buy food on campus, but you will be saving money and avoid making food decisions based on hunger and convenience.
I hope you find these tips useful. Make sure you are looking after yourself during the semester, so that you have formed healthy habits before heading into the stressful seasons of midterms and finals.
Photo courtesy of Hanny Naibho via UNSPLASH