College gets pretty stressful. Between classes, work, friends, and extracurriculars, it’s hard to remember to make time for yourself sometimes. Also, as college students, our wallets probably aren’t the happiest they’ve ever been. But just because you don’t have all the cash in the world doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spoil yourself a little. So I’ve compiled a list of all the things I’ve found helpful when it comes to relaxing and taking a break from everything happening in college.
Read a book
I refuse to believe that there are people out there who dislike reading. There are books in all areas of interest. If you really think that there isn’t one out there for you, consider writing one yourself! I’m not saying spend an entire day getting through one book, but try starting one and spend a few minutes everyday reading it. Even if it’s just rereading one of your favorites, it’s a good way to pause for a little bit in the day. It’s not only relaxing, but it’s also enough to keep you motivated and feeling more inclined to be productive throughout your day.
Personal Favorite: “every day” by David Levithan
Face Masks
Whether you’re into skin care or not, face masks are amazing all the time. Even if you don’t think that they work too well, or if you’ve tried them and saw no difference, do them anyways! No matter what, they force you to stay still for a few minutes allowing you to relax. So, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll feel at least a little better than you did before you started! Plus, there are some really good face masks at very reasonable price points that, in my personal experience, really have made my skin look and feel a lot better.
Personal Favorite(s): Aloe Vera, Dead Sea Mud Masks, Pomegranate, Lemon & Honey
Go to bed early
This is definitely easier said than done. With as much as you have to get done in college, calling it a night before midnight is almost impossible (though I’m sure my Hulu habits don’t help either). As simple as it may sound, going to bed even an hour earlier than when you usually do will make a huge difference. You’ll feel way more refreshed and motivated throughout your day without even trying.
Meditate
Another practice that will probably sound silly to some people: meditation. I’m not necessarily referring to a spiritual kind of meditating (however if you’re all about that, then go for it), but just a mental break from everything. Put your phone away, turn off all your devices, clear your head of everything, and just do nothing. I’ve noticed that on days I do this for just a few minutes, my stress just fades away and I feel way more confident in taking on the rest of my day.
Keep a planner
This will not only make you feel better, but you’ll definitely thank yourself for it in the long run. Invest in a planner and use it. Plan out your day, week, or even month for a few minutes, and I promise you’ll feel so accomplished. Sometimes just looking at all the crucial things you have to get done gets a little intimidating, so be sure to write in some time to do fun things too! You can even look at finishing your school work as a means to reaching whatever fun goals you may have in mind. This doesn’t require a super expensive or designer planner either. I got mine from Target for about $10 and it’s perfect! It’s a good notebook sized one which I like because I have space to write in everything I need. And, it comes with super cute quotes at the bottom of every page — who wouldn’t appreciate that?
Listen to podcasts
Like I said about books, there’s a podcast for everything! I listen to them when I do my homework, study, when I’m in a really good or really bad mood, need a pick-me-up, or even right before I go to sleep. Whether you need some motivation, a good laugh, or even just to know that there are people as stressed out as you, I guarantee listening to a podcast every now and then could be the thing for you.
Personal Favorite(s): “Pardon My Take”, “The Savvy Psychologist”, “GUYS WE F****D”
Ice Cream
Sometimes you just need to splurge a little and get some good ice cream for yourself. I know some people don’t really care for ice cream (I don’t get how that’s possible), so if you’re one of them then just ignore this point, or treat yourself to your favorite dessert. But I’m a firm believer that ice cream can solve all my life problems and I’m not ever going to say otherwise.
Personal Favorite(s): Mint Chocolate Chip, Macadamia Nut, Blueberry Cheesecake
Journal
Like the planner, this doesn’t require anything extravagant. All you really need is a notebook and pen and you’re set. Keeping a journal doesn’t have to be about your deepest darkest feelings and secrets; just write about what you did that day. If something went wrong, you could use writing it down as a way to find out how to do better tomorrow. Or if something went well, write it down as a reminder for other days.You really can’t go wrong with journalling, because it’s all about you and what you find significant in your own life.
Day Trips
Be a tourist for a day! Sounds super cheesy, but it can actually be so much fun! Wherever you are, there’s bound to be something nearby worth making a trip to go see or do. A lot of places offer really good student rates so you should be able to find a day’s worth of fun for a fairly good price. Even if what you’re doing isn’t super exciting, go with a group of friends and just have a good time being in each other’s company and away from all your other responsibilities.
Call Your Family/Friends
Something that has made college way easier on me is being able to call home whenever I need to. I’m not saying that you should be stuck in your past and not open yourself to new people, however, every now and then it’s really refreshing to just hear familiar voices. Whether I’m calling my parents, siblings, or friends from high school, it makes me happy to know that I have all those people to fall back on and takes a lot of my worry away about being alone and far away from home.
Make the most of where you are and the new people you’re with because that will make all the difference in your college experience. Be sure to keep yourself in mind and take advantage of all the little things you could do to make yourself feel amazing!