It’s that time of year again: the weather is gorgeous, the flowers are blooming, and everyone is just starting to get over the horrible allergies that have plagued them since mid-March. The end of the school year is just around the corner, and while the view from the Tower may be picturesque, every Longhorn knows that making it through the month unscathed will be nearly impossible. Yes folks, April is here and has brought with it exams, projects, and presentations galore.
Most college survival guides for this time of year focus on organization and efficiency. True, it’s important to get your work done so you can pass your classes, graduate, and go out there and start changing the world, but you can’t forget to take care of your mental health in times of tremendous stress. The task of surviving April may seem daunting now, but we’ve compiled a list of 10 ways to help keep you sane when the work starts piling up and the deadlines loom overhead.
1) Get some sun
As tempting as it is to set up a tent in the PCL for the month, think about the gorgeous weather you could be missing. It’s been proven that a healthy dose of Vitamin D through sun exposure has a multitude of positive effects on your body, like increased calcium absorption for strong bones, more controlled blood pressure, and a reduced risk of heart disease. Take a break from studying and go for a hike up Mount Bonnell, or get some friends together for a game of Frisbee at Zilker Park. If you simply can’t pull yourself away from the books, try setting up a hammock outside the SZB or laying a blanket out on the South Mall. You’ll feel much better studying out in the sunshine than you would in some dark corning of the library. Just don’t forget to dab on a bit of sunscreen before you go!
2) Ditch the makeup
While there’s nothing wrong with using a smoky eye or a bold lip color to give yourself a confidence boost, your makeup may not be a top priority when it gets down to crunch time. Embrace it! Extra stress in April can lead to break outs that may become irritated or inflamed when covered up by makeup. Give your face a break and skip your regular beauty routine, opting to wash your face in the morning with an exfoliator to decongest pores. Follow with an SPF moisturizer and you’ll be good to go! The time you save could go towards putting the final touches on a presentation, or even just sleeping for an extra 10 minutes. Need some inspiration to go au natural? Check out #bravefaceUT on Instagram to see your fellow classmates rock the no-makeup look.
3) Dress for success
When times are tough, there’s a certain comfort that comes along with wearing your favorite outfit. Whether it’s your brightest pair of Nike shorts or a simple sundress, wearing clothing that you’re comfortable in will have a huge impact on your mood. Take some time each night to plan your outfit for the next morning; getting out of bed is much easier when you don’t have to rack your brain to think of an outfit for the day ahead. If you wear something that makes you feel good, you’ll be much more productive throughout the day.
4) Dance it out
I, for one, am a firm believer in the benefits of a one-woman dance party. Music might just save your life in April, especially in those crucial moments where you’re only a couple pages away from finishing an important paper and you can feel your brain turning into mush. Take a moment to crank up your favorite song and go to town with your best (or most embarrassing) dance moves. Taking a short break will allow your mind to unclutter while moving your body for a few minutes will get your blood pumping and those creative juices flowing. When you sit down to finish your work, you’ll be much less tense and way more focused on the task at hand. Oh, and if any of your roommates complain about the noise, they’re required to join the dance party. Sorry, I don’t make the rules.
5) Treat yourself
Fun fact: it’s been scientifically proven that calories consumed in April don’t count.
Okay, that’s a lie. But while I wouldn’t recommend eating junk food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there’s nothing wrong treating yourself to something sweet when you survive a particularly stressful day. What’s the point of living in the city where Tiff’s Treats was founded if you can’t celebrate your perseverance by having fresh-baked cookies delivered? Or, if you feel like stretching your legs, you could call up and friend and take a walk to Amy’s for a scoop (or two!)
6) Make time for friends
While it might seem like the responsible choice to ignore your friends for the sake of your work, you should never isolate yourself to the point where you’re lonely and miserable. It’s easy to lose touch with friends (and even roommates) during the craziness of April, so make sure you set aside some time to relax with the people you care about. Even if it’s just a super quick coffee break to lament about how busy you all are, taking a break with your friends might just be the thing that keeps you sane this month.
7) Take the night off
If you’re constantly studying over an extended period of time, you run the serious risk of burning yourself out. One of the many great things about going to UT is that there’s always something going on on campus, so take a night for yourself and check out the UT Events Calendar to see what’s going on near you.
April is also a great month for live performances on campus: the UT Department of Theatre and Dance’s production of In the Heights runs through April 19 and will have you singing and dancing for days afterwards. If you’re excited to show off your fresh-face look for April, join Round About Players on April 24-26 for More Than Skin Deep: An Exploration of Body Image Through Theatre for two shows that will give you a healthy dose of self-love. If you’re a fan of the classics, you can check out The Bedroom Plays from April 23-26 and enjoy four one act plays by Tennessee Williams.
8) Call your family
If you’re close to your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins, talking to your family can have an almost therapeutic effect. Whether it’s a fresh perspective on a problem you’ve been looking at for days, or just knowing that someone is out there rooting for you, taking some time to call up your family has a way of making even the most stressful situations a little more manageable. It’s also nice to check in with your family every once in a while to let them know that you haven’t been physically crushed under the weight of all of your paperwork.
9) (Try to) get some sleep
I say “try to” because we all know that there’s a point in the year where the idea of getting a full eight hours a night is downright laughable. While the sad fact is that the occasional all-nighter is necessary, messing up your sleep cycle can have serious negative effects on your mental and physical health. Avoid staying up into the wee hours of the night if it’s not absolutely necessary and schedule yourself a power nap (20 to 30 minutes) or two throughout the day if you can manage it. Your body will thank you.
10) BREATHE
The most important thing to remember when you’re under all of this pressure is that you’re only human. You’re still growing as a person, and the only way to make it through April is to do your best. It’s very likely that you’ll make a mistake, forget a deadline, or turn in work that isn’t up to your usual standard. It happens. Take a deep breath, learn from your little missteps, and move on. And if you’re ever feeling completely overwhelmed or like you need to talk to someone, don’t hesitate to contact UT’s Counseling and Mental Health Center. Even if you have a million things to do, your health and happiness is what matters the most.
Do yourself a favor and love yourself this April. Treat yourself with kindness and respect and I promise you’ll make it to summer. Good luck, Longhorns!