The Spread

By Elaine Sine

 

Finals. Stress. Writing. Stress. Projects. Stress! Stress! Stress! Nothing beats the end of spring semester like a boatload of stress headed your way, right? Finals are officially underway, and being ravaged by the stress of them should not be how you celebrate your long-awaited summer break. So it’s important to find ways to ease your worries! Here is a list of things you can do to relax:

 

 

1. Play or learn an instrument. Seems impossible, right? A whole new instrument? Before the end of the semester? However, it doesn’t have to be as complicated as it sounds. Learning the piano may be a difficult task, but learning the melodica – a much easier instrument – is a better start. Limit yourself to this or small instruments, such as recorders, kalimbas, or anything else low maintenance. Not only is it fun, but you will obtain a new skill along the way.

 

2. Take a walk. It’s important to remember that you need to breathe during your most stressful times. When I bottle myself into the confines of my apartment, I feel a lot more stressed than when I’m out enjoying the fresh air and the warmth of the sunlight on my face. If you ever have that sense of your assignments suffocating you, make sure to leave your study area and take a walk. If you ever feel unsafe, you can always call SafeWalks and they can help you navigate campus safely.

 

 

3. Cook. Cooking is, for me, one of the best ways to forget about homework and pretend that I’m a chef. Whenever I finish an exam, I love strolling into my kitchen and planning a meal for myself. In fact, sometimes I’ve made apple pies and taken them to a friend because I wanted to share my creations. Whether it’s cooking or baking for yourself or your friends, it never hurts to try a new dish that you’ve been dying to experiment with.

 

4. Write out your feelings. Journaling or writing in a diary is a practice that many people have utilized over the years to document their feelings. I haven’t been great at practicing this habit, but whenever I do feel the urge to release my pent-up energy, I write. If you’re more of a social media-oriented person, you can even make a blog if that would suit you better! What’s important is that you don’t have to go through your stress alone. Writing helps you make sense of your feelings, and it’s important to understand the root of your problems before you get too far ahead of yourself.

 

5. Spend time with friends. Unless the majority of your friends are from the same state as you, you most likely won’t be seeing them a lot over the summer. Although they may also be stressed over exams, still go to a movie, have a party, or do something to remind them (and yourself) that it’s okay to relax. Stop and smell the flowers with someone else, because the best way to deal with stress is with your friends. Don’t keep it bottled up!

 

 

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Featured image is from Summer@Brown.