With the school year nearing to an end and the start of college approaching, now can be an especially stressful time for high school seniors. It’s very important to find some helpful ways to unwind and destress after completing some intense college work and applications.
Listed below are some options to consider when you’re feeling overwhelmed and can’t seem to get rid of school-induced brain fog and stress or tension.
Exercise – According to a variety of scientific studies, exercise is an excellent and fast way to reduce stress! If you’re not in the mood for an intense exercise, some other more low-effort ways to exercise and relieve stress would be yoga, stretching, brisk or slow walks. Meditation is also low-effort, which isn’t exactly exercise but it coincides with yoga and stretching, as well as just being an amazing way to clear your mind .
Pets! Our fluffy friends aren’t just cute creatures to look at! Scientific studies show that playing and petting your pets lowers stress hormones, so if you need a quick way to lower your stress levels after a hard day doing college work, just play with your fun furry friends. Both of you will love it!
Treating yourself! A good way to relax after all your hard work is to treat yourself to something you enjoy and that you don’t do all the time. This can be going to the mall, doing some online shopping, or going out to eat or ordering in your favorite food and watching your favorite show. It’s good to reward yourself, because you deserve it!
Friends – Hanging out outside of school with good friends to talk about stressors so you can relate to someone going through similar stressors, or just to socialize with each other about subjects other than school, is an amazing way to get your mind off of school. When asking some seniors about what they liked to do to unwind, Abigail Willer said that she enjoys unwinding this way by “socializing with friends, because I’m no longer overwhelmed by the stress of school.” When finishing up her school and college work, being around friends is her favorite way to de-stress!
Sleep – Getting consistent sleep is proven to improve mental health and in result lower stress hormones. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and getting enough sleep, is crucial in regulating our stress levels and maintaining good mental health, especially as teenagers! So after finishing your stressful work, get some good nights sleep, and keep this regular schedule to make sure you’re always feeling relaxed.
Spend time outside – Reading a book outside, or going on a long or short walk and looking at the beautiful scenery is a proven way to lower stress, so give it a try!
