You did it! You finally made it to spring break! This means that it is time to forget all your midterm stressors and relax.
Take this next week to regain focus and balance with your life and your health (and maybe catch up on a few things).
You might be trying to save money by staying in town this year. No worries, bring the vacation and relaxation to you! Not sure where to start? That’s okay, follow along to learn about 5 different self-care strategies to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul this spring break.
Self-Care Tip #1: Sleep
Yes, as college students we love and need sleep!! The best part of spring break is catching up on sleep after midterms.
Sleep deprivation can affect not only your psychological state but also your mental state.
Research has shown that during sleep your body recharges and works to support your brain and physical health to stay healthy and happy.
Sleep is also known to improve concentration and productivity, so if you get enough sleep you’ll be ready to slay the second half of the semester.
Self-care Tip #2: Rest & Relax
You may be asking yourself, isn’t this the same thing as sleep? The answer is no! Half-way through the semester and you are probably completely exhausted.
Take some study breaks this week. Instead of studying, maybe pick up a book you’ve been meaning to finish since summer or catch up on those Netflix shows you love to binge watch.
Spring break is a time where you get to totally relax your brain and stray away from the stressors that come along with being a college student.
Self-care Tip #3: Give yourself a spa day
Maybe you feel that you neglected yourself a little bit during the first half of the semester? If so, then this is the perfect idea for you! A spa day is the perfect way to seek comfort and relax after a stressful time.
A spa day at home can be as simple as popping on a face mask, drawing a nice bath, doing a full skincare routine, or even lighting a candle.
Self-care Tip #4: Clean and organize your space
When your space is not organized, it impacts you in several ways. The obvious effect of clutter is that it makes it problematic to find what you are looking for. We lose time when we are frantically searching for a missing item, and this takes away from time spent working on more productive tasks.
Also, having piles of paper or other things around us can be distracting. Your brain likes order and tends to thrive in a clean environment. An organized space helps improve focus and productivity, and it can also help improve sleep quality.
Take a day this week to clean your space and start off the second semester strong!
Self-care Tip #5: Go for a mindful walk
When it comes to being outside, research has shown that even just a few minutes outside can help relieve some anxiety and stress and even reduce symptoms of depression.
Nature shows to boost up endorphin and dopamine production levels which promotes happiness.
Spring break is a great time to go for a walk or a hike, especially if it isn’t snowing anymore in Flagstaff. Take a couple deep breaths during this time and a moment with your thoughts and feelings.
Mindfulness outside is something that can also help you relieve that built-up stress, improving your state of mind and mental health.