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Wellness > Mental Health

My Current Favorite Ways to Relieve Stress This Semester

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Stony Brook chapter.

As the Spring semester comes to an end, we find that deadlines are slowly piling up, and there’s more and more to worry about when finals are right around the corner. That end-of-semester funk is slowly starting to kick in. To help out, I have compiled a list of some of my current favorite stress-relievers that I’ve been using to stay sane during this busy time:

Create a new feel-good playlist

Creating new playlists is one of my favorite hobbies. I love expressing my feelings and emotions through music and discovering new songs that I can relate to. I have playlists for all of my emotions. I love choosing playlist covers and naming my playlists. Creating a new playlist that puts you in a good mood is the perfect way to stay positive when your spirits are low. 

Talk to your friends

Talking to your friends and catching up with them is a great way to get your mind off stress. Social interaction, in general, is a good way to lift your spirits and distract you from being stressed about work. If you don’t live near them, you can always video chat or text them or call them on the phone. If you’re able to meet up, ask them to go eat with you or find a fun activity that you guys can do together. Talking about your stress with friends can also help to ease it.

Watch a movie or show

If you have some free time on your hands, find a movie or show that you’ve never seen before and watch it. Call some friends or family over to watch it with you so it can be even more fun. Personally, I like rewatching shows so that I get a rush of nostalgia that boosts my mood.

Go for a walk

Sometimes, all you really need is some fresh air. I highly recommend taking a scenic walk. Taking in all of the beautiful nature in the world around you is extremely calming. Consider listening to some music on your walk as well!

Go shopping

Who doesn’t like a little retail therapy? Redo your entire closet, and change up your style if you’re up for it. Invite friends to go to the mall with you and try on some cute outfits together. I also enjoy online shopping because there’s more options and it’s more organized and easier to find exactly what I want. 

Bake

Baking helps to take my mind off of things and allows me to focus on something else for a while. Doing something fun while also getting some yummy food out of it is a win in my book! Baking cupcakes, cookies, brownies, or cake is always fun, whether you do it alone or with friends.

I hope these suggestions helped you out in some way! Remember that feeling stressed is normal, everyone experiences it, and you’re not alone. Go ahead and branch out to find your own personalized ways to relieve stress!

Ria Roy

Stony Brook '24

Ria Roy is a senior at Stony Brook University pursuing a Health Science degree on the pre-med track. She enjoys dancing, posting on social media, journaling, writing poetry, and listening to music in her free time. Follow her on Instagram at @riaroyyy