Managing Mid-Quarter Stress

We’re heading into the final month of first-quarter classes, so chances are you’re feeling the chaos, pressure, and stress of responsibilities piling up. Here are three pointers for managing stress and hopefully making the in-betweens a little more enjoyable now that we’re, frankly, ‘in the thick of it’.

1. Insomnia? Check out this podcast to relax your mind.

Are you struggling to quiet your brain in order to fall asleep? Is the impending doom of upcoming assignments, projects, and deadlines keeping you awake? If so, I recommend giving the podcast ‘Get Sleepy’ a listen. Available on Spotify, each episode is a sleep-priming story narrated in a relaxing tone and a soothing British accent. Some titles are even season-themed, such as “The Pumpkin Patch” and “A Moonlit Autumn Hike.” Ranging from thirty minutes to an hour, the episodes are surely long enough to get you to doze off. Although, I can almost guarantee you won’t need all 43 minutes to fall asleep...I’m usually out within the first five minutes of listening.

2. Set up a routine: one for morning, one for night.

I often find that chaotic times are made more stressful if I don’t have good habits set in place. For me, maintaining a sleep schedule, and a ballpark time when I wake up each morning helps to get my day started off on the right foot. I know we all have crazy schedules, but finding just a couple of things to prioritize each morning and night is centering. Rituals make you feel grounded, as you know exactly what to expect at a specified time; your body develops a rhythm. So maybe it’s a morning walk, a habitual cup of coffee, or putting on your favorite playlist upon waking up. For nighttime, it could be reading to unwind or journaling, reflecting on the day. Whatever it is, make sure it feeds your soul and take time to consistently practice it.

3. Practice silence.

Now, this habit is a difficult one. Personally, I feel like I am constantly stimulating my senses (with technology especially) and I doubt I’m alone in feeling this way. Whether it’s checking my email, pumping music into my ears through my Airpods, or just generally feeling the need to operate at a million miles a minute, I can never sit still. But meditation challenges you to do so. It forces you to abandon all distractions and just be. I’m very much in the developmental phase of meditating and am in no way an expert, but I find that the challenge to sit in silence is actually quite valuable. Focusing on the simplicity of breathing or letting your thoughts effortlessly pass through your mind are really hard to do as a beginner. But the more time you spend practicing, the better you will become at focusing your attention internally and truly assessing how you’re feeling. Imagine how beneficial it would be to spend ten minutes in silence, in tune with yourself, instead of mindlessly scrolling through TikTok.

In conclusion, it’s easy to get wrapped up in pressing responsibilities, but prioritizing self-care in the process allows you to truly ‘enjoy the journey’. The thread between all of my recommendations is to be intentional with how you spend your time. Best of luck with the remainder of the quarter!