Boosting Your Mind: Recovering from Finals
Graphic by Mia Hansen
With the new year setting in and classes beginning, checking in on your stress response methods is a great way to prepare for the semester.
As someone who has long dealt with the challenges of mental health, focusing on distinguishing what I feel instead of pushing my
feelings aside has made an immense difference in how I experience the world. In turn, this awareness has helped me manage stress, boost my mood and give direction when it comes to navigating the pressures of university.
My number one tip is to understand yourself.
Although we all feel the same emotions, everyone experiences them differently. This is why it’s useful to pay attention to how different emotions feel in your body: you will develop the ability to identify helpful ways to respond instead of always resorting to distractions until the feeling “passes”.
Don’t get me wrong, shifting your attention elsewhere can be incredibly useful if the feeling is too overwhelming. But it’s important to eventually face or channel the feeling with some kind of outlet for expression. Whether this means picking up a new habit/hobby or doing something you’re already passionate about, the goal is to do something that engages and expands your state of mind.
Below are the two simple ways I find most helpful to defog my mind when it comes to what I’m feeling.
Journaling
Writing is an easy way to clarify your thoughts and release pent-up emotions. With a myriad of approaches—creative, gratitude, reflective, bullet, and online just to name a few—even the most uninspired mind can take advantage of this powerful self-recording tool. No matter the approach, journaling enables self-reflection as reading previous entries places you in a position of insight into your feelings and experience.
Tip: Staring at a blank page with no clue what to write? You’d be surprised at how quickly free flowing (starting with the first thing that comes to mind) can bring you to deeper topics and understandings.
2. Get moving
Whether this means a walk, stretching, gym time, or getting down to a fav track, the idea is to get your heart rate up so your brain releases the all-powerful, feel-good hormone endorphins. With less stress and a lighter mood, it’s easier to come back to yourself and gain perspective on your mood.
