10 Ways to De-Stress During Midterms

So, we’re about halfway through the semester and you know what that means... *drumroll* 

It’s midterm season! *sleep deprived jazz hands*

Your stress levels are probably going through the roof right now. Plus, being in the middle of a pandemic does not make the stress any easier. Some of you may be having a better handle on your midterm stress than others, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from a couple of suggestions to de-stress from your projects and exams!

Now let's go!

1. Take a nap

I know this may be a duh kind of idea, but seriously. If you’ve been hunched over your computer working for 8 hours during the day– living off of coffee, fueled by stress and tears–quite frankly, I think you could benefit from a bit of shut eye.

According to the Sleep Foundation, a 10-20 minute nap is the ideal amount of time for most people to have a restorative sleep and not feel groggy when waking up. If you don't want to disrupt your sleep cycle, nap earlier in the day. Usually, most people start to feel sleepy around 2-3pm (so maybe squeeze a power nap in there).

2. Video call your friend/family 

A friendly face is always a good thing, especially when you’re stressed and the only faces you’ve seen lately are your roommates, professors, classmates. Considering you can’t physically go out and visit people, video calls are the next best thing. FaceTime, Duo, Skype, etc. are all applications you can use to see your loved ones without risking COVID exposure. 

Calling a friend to chat or calling your family to ask how they’ve been can definitely help ease some of your stress. It could also help ease the stress of the people who haven't heard from you in a while.

3. Make yourself something yummy to eat

When was the last time you ate one of your favorite foods?? It doesn't have to be anything fancy, a simple mug cake with some chocolate chips or maybe a smoothie, or even a single serving cookie are all little yummy things you can make and enjoy. 

Making yourself something is a good way to distract yourself and a good excuse to get up, move around, and use your hands to make something rather than sitting at your computer all day.

4. Listen to some music

How I recommend going about this is to pick out some music that you like, lay in your bed, and just chill out. If you’re not going to disturb anyone then listen to your music out loud instead of with headphones to give your ears a break. If you usually listen to music while you study or do homework, pick out some tunes that you don’t listen to while you work and enjoy the distraction.

5. Go on a walk

Going on walks has been a common way to pass the time during quarantine. You don't have to go out for very long or go very far, but a nice 10-20 minute walk is enough to give your brain some much needed stimulation and your body some exercise.

Plus, the weather has definitely gotten warmer lately, so take advantage of it and go for a stroll around the neighborhood!

6. Get some exercise

When I say get some exercise, I mean this very loosely. By exercise, I mean some form of physical activity that will make your limbs move and blood pump a bit faster. You don’t need to do a whole Chloe Ting workout or hit the gym, but you should do something that works for you. If that something is to do 10 pushups and then get back to work or every hour get up and do some squats or go for a walk like I mentioned above, then do that.

7. Do some nail care maintenance (and treat your hands while you’re at it!)

Okay, I admit that this one may seem a bit odd, but think about it like this: Your hands are the most often used part of your body. You use them to grab stuff, put things away, do your homework, you're probably using them to scroll through this article right now! My point is, your hands deserve a little TLC after all the work they do. Give them a little massage, cut your nails if they’re getting a little long, rub some lotion on them, maybe even put a little nail polish on if you want. It doesn’t have to be a big spectacle, but there is nothing wrong with applying some care after working for so long. 

If you want to do a little hand massage, here’s what I recommend: take the thumb of your non-massaging hand and start at the wrist of the hand to be massaged. Gently apply pressure and make slow upward strokes up towards your thumb. You can add a bit more pressure as you go over the fleshy part of your palm on your way to your thumb. Use your forefinger and thumb and gently wrap them around the base of your thumb and roll your thumb back and forth. Slowly move up your thumb until you get to the tip. Repeat rolling and upwards movement on the rest of your fingers. To finish, take your thumb and place it at the bottom of your palm and use the rest of your fingers to brace your hand. Apply even pressure and make slow long strokes outwards over your palm towards your fingers. Start with the middle before moving from one side to the other. Repeat the entire process on the other hand.

If your wrist and hands have been cramping up lately, try this: Take your thumb and put it about half an inch away from the crook of your elbow. Use the rest of your fingers to keep your arm steady. Then use your thumb and apply pressure and massage that spot in a circular motion. If you feel some tension in the rest of your forearm, then move down and apply pressure and massage down there as well. Repeat on the other arm if desired. 

8. Take a shower or a bath

If you need to justify taking a break then go take a shower or take a nice soak in the bath. You can’t (or at least you really shouldn't) take your computer with you into the bathroom so you’ll get a break from that. In your shower or bath, you get to focus on you -- and afterwards you leave feeling very refreshed and relaxed. Plus, don’t you know we all do our best thinking in the shower?  Nothing better than shower thoughts!

9. Do some laundry

I know, this is a chore and not really something that is relaxing, but hear me out! When was the last time you washed your sheets? You should be washing your sheets at least every three weeks and you definitely tend to sleep better with clean sheets than dirty ones. Plus, if you’re one of those people who have to justify taking a break, then you can use the fact that you really need to wash your sheets as your justification. At the very least, doing your laundry will help give you some stimulation in addition to clean sheets and clothes that don’t stink.

10. Take a break from your screens

Honestly, 10 or 15 minutes with no screen time will do wonders for the dry eyes and eye strain that you are most definitely having right now. Staring at a screen for hours on end isn’t good for anyone, so here’s how I recommend taking your break. If you want to set a timer, set it on your phone and turn your volume up. Then leave all of your electronics and anything else with a screen in your room and relocate yourself to a different area. Now just sit there, close your eyes, and give them a gentle rub if they’re feeling a bit dry. When you hear your alarm go off wherever you left it, get up, turn it off, and return to your work. 

I hope these tips help! Let me know what you think and if you have any tricks that you recommend trying!