How to Stress Less

Over the past several years, I’ve been no stranger to stress, especially around this time of year. For instance, last year I was anxiously awaiting my early decision result from Oberlin, and now I’m anxiously preparing for my first college finals week. If you’re like me and feeling a little overwhelmed right now, I’ve got some sure-fire tips to help you relax and feel less stressed. 

1. Get cozy. Sometimes when I’m stressed, the best thing I can do is just take a break from everything. I put on my favorite comfy outfit, curl up in bed with a hot drink, and chill out. A quick nap does wonders, I promise! Similarly, when I’m feeling completely overwhelmed or starting to spiral, I turn off all the lights in the room and lie on my bed with earbuds in and music blasting. It’s my favorite way to completely mentally reset, and after a few songs I often feel good enough to get back to work. This method of destressing is especially effective in the winter! There’s nothing like a cup of hot chocolate in bed while watching the snow fall. It’s been a snowy December so far in Oberlin—it snowed for most of the day yesterday and on Wednesday—so it was the perfect time to bundle up in bed.
    
2. Reach out to a friend. I love my friends! Both my friends from back home and my friends here at Oberlin are amazing, and I know I can turn to them when I’m feeling stressed. Often, at least one of my friends is going through something similar, so we can commiserate together, and I never have to go far to find a familiar face. My friends can also be a great distraction when I need a break, too. There’s almost always something fun going on somewhere in the dorm, and if that fails my friends from home are only a call away. You aren’t limited just to friends, either. Reach out to your family, to teachers, to coaches or mentors! They’ve probably been in your shoes, and can give you some advice to get through it. I’ve called my mom while freaking out more times than I can count, and she’s always been there to listen or to try to help. Even in the worst moments of stress, there are people in your corner who want to support you, and even just having someone there to listen makes a big difference in stressful situations.
    
3. Go back to some old favorites. Comfort foods, comfort music, comfort movies or TV shows, and anything else that brings you joy will also help you relax. Before a stressful class, I often listen to music that either makes me feel calm or confident (I have playlists for both), and on college decision day I remember sitting on my steps with my earbuds in just minutes before the decisions were released, playing my favorite songs to distract myself from my nervousness! Comfort foods are somewhat limited by what the dining hall offers, but DeCafe, the campus grocery/convenience store,  always has plenty of Ben & Jerry's. Comfort movies and TV shows are easily accessible no matter where you are, and I’ve had plenty of movie nights in my dorm or with my friends. My all-time favorite comfort movies are also just some of my favorite movies in general—movies I’ve seen a hundred times, so I can just relax without having to think about them too much. Some of my favorites are Pride & Prejudice (2005), The Princess Bride, and most animated Disney movies, but especially Mulan, Tangled, and Beauty and the Beast. So set aside some time to sit back, relax, and enjoy something you love!
    
4. Take care of yourself. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to make sure you’re just taking good care of yourself. Take a nice, hot shower or bath, eat healthy and eat regularly, get some exercise, and go to bed early! You can also find ways to treat yourself while engaging in good self-care, like trying out new skincare products or lotions or going on a walk out in nature. This is one area where I sometimes struggle to take my own advice, but just this past weekend, I had two concert rehearsals on Saturday, a concert on Sunday, and classes and another concert on Monday. Instead of going out on Saturday night, then, I went to bed before midnight for the first time in probably at least a month, and it was honestly game-changing. I don’t think I would have gotten through Sunday without those extra hours of sleep, so take it from me—it really does work.

5. Breathe in, breathe out. Just take a deep breath! You got this.

    

I hope that this list has helped you find some ways to relax and de-stress! Regardless of what's on your mind today or what's been on your mind lately, good luck out there!