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Look! They’re doing it– and they don’t
even have a 12 page paper to write!
We are all feeling it right now. It is the end of the semester and teachers are piling it on (okay so technically they piled it on at the beginning of the semester and we just chose to wait till the end to do any of the work…but seriously it is all their fault). We are all stressed and it is starting to show in our daily lives. The circles under our eyes have now become more raccoon-ish than normal. Our daily swearing has gone up from an acceptable 25% to a frightening (and friend-losing) 80%. We forget to eat for days and then clear the fridge of anything edible when we get a spare minute. We find ourselves falling asleep almost anywhere: in the shower, in line for mac and cheese in the dining hall, while writing articles for the 1880000………
Okay, so we need to chill out every once in a while so that we are coherent for at least a few hours a day. Here are some ways that I achieve some semblance of sanity during these rough times:
1. Cook yourself dinner one night that you have about an hour to kill.
This only works if cooking doesn’t stress you out. When I cook, I literally don’t think about anything else while I’m doing it, for fear that I will burn something. The key to this one is to actually sit down and enjoy the meal afterwards and not just inhale it like a python and then get back to writing that 12 page paper due in an hour.
2. Have sex.
No seriously, Do it. It is a honest to God de-stresser (as long as you orgasm, so guys help your girls out). Sex also is considered a great exercise, lowers cholesterol, increases blood flow, and fortifies your bones and muscles through an increase of testosterone and estrogen. Now an important note to make is that babies and STDs make more stress. Use protection people! If you are riding solo right now, no worries. Masturbation also releases tension (mainly sexual, but tension is tension, right?).
3. Go see a movie.
I mean get out of your house/dorm and GO see a movie. That way there is no chance of you becoming guilty and turning off the T.V. to work on editing your thesis project. Movies (unless you are a jaded film major) take us away from our daily lives for a couple of hours, and that my friends is the whole point.
4. Take a bath/extended shower.
For those lucky enough to have a bath, put on some guillemots or (heaven forbid) postal service, or iron and wine, or John Tesh, or anything that is relaxing really, and enjoy your soak. For those of us normals with a shower take a few more minutes and just let the water run down on you. Studies have shown that the water pressure and heat from showers relaxes your shoulder and back muscles.
5. Go for a walk!
This is assuming that the weather isn’t shitting on you at the time. My favorite places to walk besides the obvious Boston Commons and public gardens, is Tremont Street in the south end and the Commonwealth Mall. This isn’t a power walk either. Take time to look around your city, because frankly its pretty awesome. The added bonus of more vitamin D from the sun and endorphins from exercising makes this the perfect activity to de-stress with.
So go and get your work done, but please remember to take some time for yourself. You and everyone who has to deal with you will appreciate it. I promise.