The middle of the semester can be rough. Sometimes it can be tough to keep a positive mindset and take care of yourself. It can seem impossible to create the life you want to live when everyday brings new stress with it. Here are a few tips and tricks I’ve found to keep me moving forward even when it seems like a breakdown is inevitable.
Cut the toxic people out of your life.
Spring cleaning means it’s time to take out the trash and, honey, that includes people. You can’t be your best self if you’re surrounded by people who are only giving out negative energy. If you let toxic people stay in your life, it makes it harder for good things to come to you. So start fresh by ending the friendships that aren’t working and surrounding yourself with people who bring out the best in you.
Related: How to get rid of toxic people
Plan, plan, plan.
I find that the more organized I am, the less stressed I am. Being less stressed out means I can be more productive and enjoy life more! Now, that doesn’t mean that you have to go out and buy yourself a fancy, expensive planner (but if you want to do that then go ahead and pop off sis). A simple calendar can be enough to keep track of the important events in your life. Is saving paper part of living your best life? Great! There are plenty of calendar and planner apps you can use instead. The important thing is to keep track of events and due dates so you can stay one step ahead!
Try to appreciate the beauty in the world.
Take a little time each day to reflect on what you’re grateful for. It can be a person in your life, an accomplishment, even the color of the sky during the sunset. Anything that makes you realize that the life you’re living is a great one, even if it doesn’t always seem like it.
Make a vision board.
Pinterest is your best friend! Make a board and pin images that reflect what you want to see in your life. There’s this little mantra I like that says, “thoughts become things”. If you visualize the world you want to live in, you’ll be more motivated to take steps toward those dreams and one day, you’ll find that you’re living your vision board.
Start journaling.
I know journaling isn’t for everyone and, for the longest time, I didn’t think it was my thing either. Last semester I was required to keep a journal for a class and it ended up helping me so much. After a really bad day, I could just unload and work through everything I had been feeling. By thinking through things and writing them down I started to discover the root of some of my issues. But it wasn’t just for the bad days. I used the journal for writing down the good things that happened to me, my favorite songs and TV shows at the moment, new music I was listening to, any plans I was excited for, books and plays I wanted to read and, when I was feeling it, I wrote some poetry. The journal became a weird mix of a therapist and a creative outlet. I highly recommend giving it a try! Writing down your highs and lows and then being able to reflect on them later is a great way to improve the life you’re living now. The best part is, you can look back at your old journal entries and see the journey that you’ve taken.
Related: Why Journaling Is the Best Part of My Day
Take some time for self-care.
It can be tough to take time for yourself when you’re so busy with homework, jobs, and extracurricular activities. I know I’ve told myself plenty of times, “I don’t have time to sleep, I need to get this homework done.” But the reality is, if you don’t take care of yourself you won’t be able to succeed in the other things that you care about. Even a couple of minutes in the morning and at night to relax and be with yourself make a difference. Oftentimes we think of self-care as a face mask or buying something nice for yourself, but there are other options. Hanging out with your best friend, going out to dinner instead of eating at the dining hall, sitting down and listening to a new album that you’ve been looking forward to, watching your favorite movie, coloring, the list goes on and on. Anything that makes you feel happy is self-care. So take a little time and make sure you’re getting what you deserve because you’re amazing!
Related: For Me, Self-Care is Non-Negotiable – Here’s How I Make It a Priority
Of course, doing these things doesn’t guarantee that your life will turn around completely or that you’ll be happy and productive all the time. That’s just not realistic. But taking a little bit of time to do things that are healthy and beneficial for you will help you get through those rough patches when they inevitably come along. Freeing your mind and feeding your soul makes life just a little sweeter.