We are all busy college students scurrying around campus to get to class, work, meetings, and other things. Don’t even mention having to squeeze in time for meals and trying to schedule exercise and socializing with friends in our spare time. It can all be stressful and downright overwhelming at times. Things seem to get worse once midterm season kicks in… and let’s not forget about the stress of final exams. It’s no wonder our school is known as Berzerkeley—it can make you feel a little bit crazy.

As determined as we are to do our best during our college years, it is important to take a breather every once in a while, not just for your own sanity but for your health. We are often told about the many ways to manage our stress—exercise, time management, etc. However, what can you do when you are crunched for time? How can you keep your stress levels down when you know you have an immense amount of work to do for the next few days? This is when it becomes crucial to find some “me” time for yourself. Relax and recharge to better concentrate on your tasks.

Got a long night ahead of you? Don’t let your amount of homework be an excuse to keep you from getting some “me” time to help you relax. Whether you are at home or in the library, you can do the following:

• Sit up straight in your seat, take a deep breath in, count to 10 in your head, and slowly breathe out. Do this exercise 2 to 3 times before starting a long task, and repeat about every 2 hours.
• Another quick exercise you can do is tighten up all of your muscles together from head to toe, and hold them tight for 10 seconds. Then slowly release as your body relaxes. Now you’re ready to hit the books!

Do you happen to have a few more minutes for yourself? Try these 5-to-10-minute exercises:

• If it happens to be a nice, clear day outside, you should get to enjoy it at least for a short while. What’s the point in having beautiful weather if you are too busy to bask in the sun’s rays? I suggest taking 2 to 5 minutes out of your day to just lie in a grassy area. Not only will the sun give you some vitamin D, but you will also get to take a short break from your busy schedule.
• Meditation is also a great way to recharge and relax. Sit down upright, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Challenge yourself to clear your mind of any outside thoughts concerning school, work, and other sources of stress. Let your mind focus on your breathing pattern. This may be difficult to do at first, but after concentrating for about 10 minutes, you will surely feel a lot more relaxed.

We are often told about many things that should be enjoyed in moderation, but don’t forget to indulge in life every once in a while. After your midterms are over, treat yourself to a night at home with a good movie or to dinner with friends. There’s no need to be a workaholic every single day for the next four years. After all, for many of us once we’re through here, we still have to have enough energy left to get through graduate school.

Article by Marilyn Cabrera

Feature Image Source: Santa Rosa Junior College