Things I Do to Maintain My Sanity

I hope everyone has had an excellent start to the week. I had the day off school yesterday… and I spent it doing schoolwork. 🙂 C’est la vie. I was productive, so it was a good day.

But… there are some days when you just don’t feel productive. Or you feel like all your to-dos are piling up. Or maybe they just hit you all at once? What I’m trying to say is, sometimes you feel like you’re going a little bit crazy. Talking to some friends, I’ve realized that this is about the time in the quarter where we all start to get there. Next thing we know, we’re gorging ourselves on junk food and procrastinating… and we know those things don’t really help.

I know stress and busyness aren’t exclusive to college students, so I thought I’d share some of the (healthier) ways I deal with an increasingly-chaotic schedule and ever-expanding to-do list, in hopes that maybe something helps someone. (And also, maybe you could help me? 😉 )

• I make lists

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My lists are a little out of control, honestly. Some are attached to a calendar or schedule, so I know what my priorities are, and some are stand-alone, so I know simply what all has to be done. I have one in my paper planner. I keep a little dry-erase board list on my desk. I stick Post-Its on the edge of my computer screen. I have the Timeful app on my phone. There are reminders of my to-dos and appointments everywhere because when there are a lot of things to remember, it’s so easy to forget one. And who doesn’t like the satisfaction of crossing things off multiple times?

• I work out.

I often feel like my mind is calmest when I’m moving. I make exercise a regular part of my days, whether it’s between classes or after, just to give my mind a little bit of a break.

• I have (solo) dance parties.

This is like a mini version of the above point… except something feels even more freeing about just dancing around my dorm room when I don’t feel like I have the mental capacity to read another page or solve another problem. I’m a horrific dancer, but this never fails to give me a burst of energy or make me smile. Bonus: it’s quick.

• I phone a friend.

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This is actually two points. Sometimes, it refers simply to giving myself some social interaction rather than burying myself in a textbook. Maybe I’ll go grab a bite to eat and chat with someone for a while, but sometimes I’ll call or text a friend or family member for a bit. I get to tell someone why I’m struggling, and they usually have something to talk about, too. Everybody wins.

Other times, this means working with someone. It’s a lot easier to force yourself to finish that task you’ve been dreading if you have a couple people to knock it out with you.

• I sleep.

I’m useless without sleep. I go to bed in decent time, and I wake up ~8 hours later. I can function, and my mind doesn’t feel nearly as fuzzy as it does on close to 6 hours’ sleep. Naps are also good.

• I (usually) give myself a break.

Sometimes having a ton to do leads to feeling all run-down and inadequate, and then I find myself coping in more unhealthy manners. Sometimes, I guzzle Diet Coke (I love it so much) and inhale chocolate, Oreos, and anything else I can find, and panic because I don’t feel like I can do whatever needs to be done.

And when that happens, I tell myself it’s okay, even though it feels kind of not, and I take a deep breath and tell myself to start over. I make a plan to conquer my to-do list, and then I do.

And once you’ve made it through the stress, you get to be proud of how fabulous you are. (Because you are.) Have a lovely Tuesday, everyone!

How do you power through stressful times?