‘Tis the season to be stressed. Friends, family, and that dreaded word, “midterms”. One morning you wake up and your face looks like a war zone and all you can think about is how many packs of mini donuts you can eat before it becomes shameful. Don’t fear though, here are 8 simple ways to help relieve stress. You’ll have everyone wondering how you keep so calm and cool during this stressful season.
1)Aromatherapy
If you’ve ever had a massage, you know that as soon as you step in the room, it smells like a blissful paradise. That’s because there is a strong connection between different scents and how they make us feel. If stress relief is your goal, walk yourself over to the nearest drugstore and buy some aromatherapy oil. Lavender, rose, and frankincense are all good at relieving stress. Take a huge whiff, dab a few drops onto your wrists and behind your ears, and sit back and relax.
2)Sleep
Telling a college girl to get more sleep is like telling a horse to walk on two legs. IT REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE THOUGH. If you can’t catch a few more ZZZ’s, try waking up at a specific time where your sleep cycle naturally ends. This will leave you waking up feeling more rested, rather than feeling like a zombie. (Hint: there are apps for this)
3)Tea
Nothing makes a you feel better than when you take care of your body. Sometimes you need that extra slice of cake, and sometimes you don’t. When you don’t, making some tea is a sure way to unwind and thank your body. Teas with these specific ingredients are targeted at helping reduce and relieve stress: chamomile, lemon, and passionflower. If you like to drink your tea before bed, remember to drink the naturally decaffeinated version.
4)Exercise
I’m not talking a hardcore cardio workout that leaves you wondering if you can walk home (though if that’s your thing, more power to you). Any type of exercise is good, even just taking 15 minutes to sit and stretch. By taking care of your body, you take care of your mind. If you’re looking for a recommendation for the most stress relieving workouts, try yoga or Pilates, which actively incorporate breathing techniques into the exercise.
5)Make a playlist of your current favorite songs
Find your top 10 favorite songs and compile them all together. They don’t have to be zen meditation songs or classical favorites, but just songs that make you feel happy. Find a comfy spot and listen to the playlist all the way through, who knows you might even find yourself singing along without a care in the world.
6)Take super deep breaths
As humans, we typically breath through the top part of our chests, not filing our lungs all the way. This is such an easy fix though. Lie flat on your back and place a book in your belly. Breathe as deep as you possibly can, filling your lungs all the way to the bottom. As you do this the book should rise and fall, giving you a good visual of the airflow through you. A couple of deep breaths in and you’ll immediately start to feel more clear headed.
7)Clean your room
Start by making your bed. Studies show, people that habitually make their bed every morning are more productive throughout the day. Maybe we should take a leaf out of their book, and apply it to our whole room. Everyone feels more calm when they clean up their clutter.
8)Light a candle
Along the same lines as aromatherapy, scented candles can be a big stress reliever. Huge added bonus though; the flames of the candle are very therapeutic to watch flicker. If you’re like me, blowing out the candle and smelling the scented smoke is just as appealing as the candle itself. Not to mention the fact that you can light as many as you want, and sit in a room bathed in candlelight while you read a book.
If you can think of anything more relaxing than that, please let us know.