It is the start of the school year, and for most, that can be really stressful. Whether you are an Education major in your junior year with a staunch lack of extracurriculars, or a freshman English major who’s already the president of two clubs, the start of school is always hard. It is necessary to take time to take care of oneself. There are many ways to destress, but it can be hard to think of them sometimes, so here are just a few of the ways you can bring yourself back from the back-to-school blues.
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Hang out with your friends. This may be silly, or perhaps the most obvious option, but it truly helps to take some of the pressure off of your shoulders. Go bowling, watch a movie, or even do homework together. Your friends can always help you take your mind off your worries, even if it’s by being productive.
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Attend Cabrini events. Many people shrug off on-campus events as silly, but they’re truly some of the most fun things you can do while at Cabrini. Grab a bunch of your friends and head for the cafeteria for a SEaL-organized event, where friendly members of our student body and Hank the Seal will always be present. Whether you’re attending BINGO, trivia nights, or movie screenings, it’s always nice to throw yourself into Cabrini’s fun community atmosphere.
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Learn a new hobby. This can be incredibly helpful for stressed-out students. If you want to learn how to knit, bake, or make model trains, now might be the best time to pick up a new hobby (or to go back to an old one). Putting a part of yourself and your effort into a trivial hobby, something that you can fail at without worrying about it can be very helpful.
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Read a book. This may sound like the exact opposite of de-stressing for some, but for others, reading can be very therapeutic. Textbooks are very different from fiction (or non-fiction or romance novels, whatever genre you prefer). You can cast yourself into another world, go on an adventure with some pirates or save the world with some warlocks. You can escape from this life and into another with just one book.
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Take part in a sport or club. Though for some, this can sound like a responsibility, this can also be the break of a lifetime. Whether you join the dance team or the LGBT club, it is always nice to take a break and spend some time with likeminded people. If you’re more of a physical person, a sport may be helpful in destressing you - helping you to stop thinking and instead put your effort into running down the field and scoring a point. However, if you’re more of a mental person, and want to put your effort on something other than schoolwork, a club could definitely be the right option. There are clubs for everything, almost anything you could be interested in - and if the right club out there doesn’t exist, you can start one.
School can definitely be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. This September, remember to take some time for yourself and indulge in some of the things you love. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, tell someone who cares about you, and they will be sure to help you in any way they can. Good luck to everyone, and don’t worry: you’re going to do great.