It's already week six of Fall Quarter, and that means one thing to all Ohio University students: The stress is piling up.
Between classes, extracurricular activities and extravagant social lives, students often face stressful days. Roommate arguments, couple break-ups and getting busted in the dorms add to the stress, making the next four weeks look bleak and never-ending.
But fear not, fellow students. Although I am not a licensed therapist ' or really licensed in anything at all ' I can share with you a few tips to help keep you sane during these stressful times.
First, there's the slightly obvious answer: slow down. I'll admit, sometimes I leave my house at 10 a.m. and don't return until after midnight. During these busy times, take 10 or 15 minutes to sit around and do nothing or to do something mindless and entertaining. Check out the latest celebrity gossip on E!, creep around Facebook or read a magazine. Taking a few minutes to break can make a big difference.
Another helpful hint is to make a to-do list. Include projects, papers, tests and any other obligations, and be sure to add due dates. Making a to-do list helps you focus on what needs done and when. A little organization goes a long way.
Treat yourself on particularly busy days. If you've slaved over your calculus homework for eight hours in the library, take a few minutes to grab ice cream from the Lollipop or Cold Stone. Or pick up a new OU hoodie, because you know you've been living in that same one for weeks.
All that stress can build up in your muscles, so enlist a friend for a good old back rub. You'd be surprised how twisted and knotted your shoulders are just from all the stress you've encountered. Everyone enjoys a good massage, and it's great for relaxation and for relieving stress.
Feel free to create your own stress-relieving remedies, too. Sip a cup of hot tea. Take a power nap. Dance around your room. Bake some cookies. Just do something that will help you keep your sanity and relax ' and doesn't involve schoolwork.
Caitlin Price is a senior journalism major and a Senior Writer for Culture Staff at The Post. Send her an e-mail at cp369004@ohiou.edu.
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