5 Things to Do When You’re Stressed Out

Things to Do When You're Stressed Out

It has become that time of year again. That time where anything and everything is overwhelming and you forget what it feels like to be on summer vacation (classes haven’t even been in session for a month… are you kidding?!)

This week has been the week of exams, office hours, review sessions, and study guides. Even on a good week, I hardly spend any time at home and, when I do, it’s spent working on something I’d rather not be doing. While I don’t condone closing those books and just forgetting about school completely, I think it is important to take some time for yourself to “de-stress”. I’ve been super bad at this lately. Side note: why is it always so hard to follow your own advice?

This weekend is Pope-pocalypse for us Philly peeps (AKA: the Pope is visiting and the whole city is shutting down and there’s really no getting in OR out) so I’m definitely going to take this weekend to de-stress and enjoy myself by doing some (if not all) of these things

Things to Do When You’re Stressed

1. Take a long shower

Nothing is better than taking a nice long shower to collect your thoughts. Yes, I do some of my most serious thinking and planning in the shower, but that doesn’t mean it can’t also be relaxing. Bonus tip: make it a bubble bath. I’ve always been wanting to try those bath bombs!

2. Paint your nails

Fingers, toes, both?! It’s completely up to you. Take some time to make yourself feel pretty. Something as mindless as painting my nails is such an easy way to take some stress out of your life. Bonus tip: buy a new polish color just for the occasion!

3. Pop in your favorite movie

I don’t know about y’all, but I definitely feel more relaxed when I have my favorite movie in. Even if I’ve seen it 1,000 times, it always makes me feel better. Bonus tip: put the movie on before you paint your nails and invite your roomies to join!

4. Write it all down

I know it’s very hard to get your mind to cooperate (especially if you’re freaking out about exams like I was) but it can help to get all those feelings/stresses/worries down on paper. I bought myself a journal over the summer (and I still haven’t touched it, go me!) and I think I’d really benefit from writing at least SOMETHING down every day to reflect. Bonus tip: find a website with prompts to help get some thoughts and feelings flowing!

5. Get some sleep

SLEEP is so important and, as college students, we definitely don’t get enough of it. I encourage you to go to bed early and see for yourself what a difference it makes! After a good night’s sleep, you can take on anything. Bonus tip: before falling asleep, how about picking up a good old-fashioned book? Put down those electronics and get your read on!

What do you like to do to help yourself de-stress?

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41 Comments

  1. September 22, 2015 / 11:17 am

    thanks for these tips! I love painting my nails or zenning out with something that takes my mind off things. thanks for the suggestions ♥

    • September 25, 2015 / 5:18 pm

      You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by!

  2. Allison Ellzey
    September 22, 2015 / 12:09 pm

    Every night I unwind to a movie and a bubble bath. It’s seems lavish to say it out loud, but it helps me relax!

    • September 25, 2015 / 5:15 pm

      No, that sounds amazing! What kind of bubble bath do you use?

  3. September 22, 2015 / 12:20 pm

    I love movies because they can take you to a different world, but you have to make sure you’re not still trying to do schoolwork instead of watching them! I’m so guilty of acting like I’m going to relax and watch something and then just doing work and stressing out even more. It’s easy to forget that breaks are okay.

    • September 25, 2015 / 5:14 pm

      I do this too! It’s sometimes so hard for me to just relax!

  4. September 22, 2015 / 12:33 pm

    Hands down, I take stress showers. My favorite part about living in the dorm last year was the fact that it was acceptable to take showers at any time of the day. During weeks where I had multiple tests, I would study really hard and switch between studying multiple subjects and then take a shower break. Long showers are the best way for me to de-stress because I can clear my mind and think about other things.

  5. Ally
    September 22, 2015 / 1:06 pm

    I get stressed so so easily! I always forget to give myself a little R&R. Movies are my escape for sure – I love foreign films for destressing 🙂

    Alessandra | The PumpUp Blog

    • September 25, 2015 / 5:09 pm

      I’ve never watched a foreign film, but they definitely seem interesting!

  6. Jordyn Brown
    September 22, 2015 / 1:13 pm

    One of my favorite ways to de-stress is to watch a corny Hallmark movie WHILE painting my nails. It’s such a treat just to relax and veg out for a while 🙂

    xoxo, SS

    The Southern Stylista

    • September 25, 2015 / 4:49 pm

      Corny Hallmark movies are the best!

  7. September 22, 2015 / 4:08 pm

    Personally, I think painting my nails would stress me out even more because I am terrible at that .. but a nice long shower is a great de-stressor for me!

    -Morgan
    How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

  8. September 22, 2015 / 4:36 pm

    I love taking a nice long bath with a bath bomb while reading a book.
    So relaxing.

    xoxo, Jenny || Breakfast at Lillys

  9. September 22, 2015 / 6:44 pm

    I can become overwhelmed and over stressed really easily (and even more so when I was in school). A long shower or long run always helps alleviate stress for me (:

  10. Lauren Ashley
    September 22, 2015 / 7:14 pm

    I seriously needed this. I need to take a bath… that’s what de-stresses me a little!

    Lauren

    The Fashionista’s Diary

    • September 25, 2015 / 2:32 pm

      I followed your snapchats about your marketing exam… I hope it went well!

  11. September 22, 2015 / 7:20 pm

    This post is always necessary. I LOVE learning new ways to destress and I think everyone needs this at some time or another!

    xx. Brittany | Southern Soul

    • September 25, 2015 / 2:31 pm

      Totally agree! Glad you liked this, Brittany!

  12. Kylie Katherine Souder
    September 22, 2015 / 9:03 pm

    I needed this, I have three exams this week and I’m currently so stressed

  13. Ashley Vickney
    September 22, 2015 / 10:22 pm

    Honestly I needed this so much tonight! Sometimes you have to remind yourself to slow down!
    xoxo

    • September 25, 2015 / 2:31 pm

      Yes, definitely! I hope your week got better!

  14. Courtney Dunsmore
    September 22, 2015 / 11:02 pm

    I seriously needed this- if only I oculd go home and take a bubble bath! At college, netflix is my de-stresser

    Courtney//As We Stumble Along

    • September 25, 2015 / 2:31 pm

      Same! I’m planning on watching Friends all weekend. It’s such a nice way to relax!

  15. Ashley
    September 22, 2015 / 11:50 pm

    Reading! It always helps me un-wind and de-stress! I have to make a point to read at least 20 minutes every night before bed. It really helps settle me after a long day!

    xo Ashley

    • September 25, 2015 / 2:19 pm

      I really wish I could take time to read every night before bed. I’m usually way too tired and doze off right away!

    • September 25, 2015 / 2:18 pm

      That’s such a great idea! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  16. September 24, 2015 / 3:00 pm

    Painting nails, yes, I need to do this tonight. This week has KILLED me!!

    xo, Alicia | Alicia Tenise

    • September 25, 2015 / 2:18 pm

      Thankfully it’s over! I hope you got the chance to paint those nails 🙂

  17. Alexis
    September 28, 2015 / 11:57 pm

    Such simple ideas but they really do make all the difference!

    paperrosies.com

  18. A∂яιєииє Dαкσтα
    April 22, 2016 / 12:23 am

    I just want to let you know that your blog is totally stress relieving for me lol. I’m having one of those weeks…. okay month’s…But, blog reading and coloring has really helped me de-stress. I really want to get involved in blogging but don’t know where to start…. any tips?

    • April 26, 2016 / 9:18 pm

      Thank you Adrienne! I’m so glad reading my blog has helped you relax! If you’d like to send me an email I can try to point you in the right direction.

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