Hold on tight — We’re halfway there!
8 ways to cope with stress in these difficult times
Stressed about online classes? Biting your nails over midterms? Feeling off-balance thanks to the winter weather in October? This is a friendly reminder to step back, take a few breaths, and prioritize your mental health. This time of the year is always stressful, and 2020 sure hasn’t been a cakewalk for anyone.
However, I’m here to help by reminding you that we’re already halfway through the semester. Follow this acrostic for eight tips to help you destress; and remember — U GOT THIS.
Unplug - In a now largely virtual world, we obviously cannot unplug our computers all the time, because we have a million online classes and meetings to attend. However, when you’re not fulfilling a virtual obligation, set down your phone and close your laptop. It is okay to take a break from the screens for a while and spend time with your roommates, family, or pets. When you’re in class, remember to wear your blue light glasses to protect your eyes from hours and hours of harsh light exposure.
Get Moving - One of the best ways to cope with stress is to get your body moving. If you have access to a gym, that’s a great thing — just don’t forget your mask and plenty of water! If you don’t prefer the gym scene, there are plenty of at-home workouts available on the internet. Pinterest is always a great place to start. If you don’t think you have time, try to at least carve out 10-30 minutes a day to meditate or do yoga. Here’s a great 20-minute de-stressing yoga practice you can try.
My roommate Rylie Sanford ‘22 (Psychology) and I carved time out of our busy schedules to get down to our gym.
Organize - Staying on top of assignments can decrease stress. Work ahead when and if you can, but if you’ve reached your mental limit, remember that it’s okay to step back! Investing in a paper planner or calendar board are easy ways to write out assignments, schedules, and other things you’ve got going on so you can visualize each day and know what is coming up. If writing is not your forte or you don’t want to spend money on physical things, free virtual tools such as Google Keep and Google Calendar allow you to create lists and schedule events — you can even set reminders and notifications so you don’t miss a thing!
Talk to Someone - Talking to a friend or a counselor about your life can be super healing. Whether you seek professional help or just someone to relate to what you’re going through, talking through your stress can be extremely helpful. St. Kate’s offers great mental health resources for students. The Counseling Center is offering virtual appointments and workshops for mental health, and the Health and Wellness Clinic offers mental health appointments as well. If you’re experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or contact the Ramsey County Urgent Care for Adult Mental Health (651) 266-7900. Another crisis resource is the National Crisis Text Line, which is available by texting HOME to 741741.
The Twin Cities Maze in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota is open on weekdays from 12 a.m. - 6 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. until November 1. You can pick out a pumpkin or pay to go through the corn maze!
Take Time for Yourself - Sometimes, the best way to de-stress is just to be with yourself, doing something that you enjoy. This could be a creative outlet, a podcast you like listening to, or a workout that you enjoy, among other things. Activities such as puzzles, color-by-numbers, or games can allow your mind to focus on something other than all of your assignments and projects for a while. You could also get out and explore the neighborhood, find fun fall activities to participate in, or go to a coffee shop you’ve never tried before (all while staying safely socially distanced, of course).
Healthy Eating - Taking care of your body releases endorphins that bring down stress levels. Try searching up healthy recipes on Pinterest. Don’t forget to take your medications and any daily vitamins you take. Finally, drink lots of water-- if you have time, use this fun little hydration calculator to figure out roughly how much you should be drinking each day.
It’s Going to Be Okay - In the words of Bob Marley, “Don’t worry about a thing ‘cause every little thing is gonna be alright.” Find a mantra or motto to remind yourself of each day, especially when you’re having a particularly tough time. Positive affirmations are something that you can keep coming back to throughout the day, month, or year. If you find a good reminder for yourself, you could even write it on a notecard and stick it somewhere that you know you will see every day as a constant reminder.
Putting reminders around your dorm, apartment, or house can be a constant reminder for yourself throughout these hard times to stay present.
Sleep - It can be tempting to pull an all-nighter — or two, or three — as midterms come up, but it’s actually worse for your physical and mental health to do so. Try to get a good amount of sleep; the CDC’s website states that adults need at least 7 hours each night! If you are tired during the day, taking short naps (15-30 minutes) is the best for rejuvenation.
My source for this article was the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s website. For more tips and information for coping with stress, visit the webpage linked here. And remember: U GOT THIS.
