By Rachel Bednarz
To be completely honest, I’m a perfectionist. I want to get everything done and I want to do it all myself. This lifestyle can be exhausting and impractical for many college students, and oftentimes end with burnout.
Lately I have been working on finding ways to relax my mind without feeling lazy or unproductive. Here are a few ideas to avoid burnout and give your brain a break in the middle of a bust semester.
1. Go for a walk.
Getting outside is a great way to begin clearing your head. Many research studies
have found being around greenery is enough to relieve everyday stress. Combine that
with getting a little exercise and you’ll have a calm mind in no time.
2. Grab coffee with a friend.
Times are tough, everyone knows that. Take some time out of your day to connect
with an old friend. They’ll be happy to see you and they can probably relate to the
stresses you carry.
3. Start a sketchbook or journal.
Writing or sketching is good for your mind. Put your thoughts down on a piece of
paper, they don’t have to be organized and they don’t have to make sense to anyone
but you!
4. Take care of some plants.
Taking care of another being, whether it be a plant or a pet, can help you feel
productive throughout your day. Watering my plants and feeding my cat always
reminds me to drink some water and eat lunch myself.
5. Call your family.
As college students, we’re away from our families for long periods of time. Take
some time to remember your parents were in their twenty-somethings once too, they
might have some advice for you. If they don’t have advice to offer, they can at least
lend a listening ear.
Hopefully these five ideas are enough to get us all started on a journey to better self-care. Intentionally practicing just one of these each day is a good way to get yourself into a new self-loving routine.