Maia BrownThird year MICRO major and premed student Academics are important, but what is more important is that we take time for ourselves and take care of our mental health. Doing small things for ourselves that remove us from that academic mindset, even for five minutes, can help us in the long run. There are so many ways for people to do this, and different things work for different people. From baking to listening to music, I will walk you through some of the things I do when I get stressed or when I just need a break from academics. One of my go-to things is listening to music. Turning on Spotify on my computer helps my brain know that we are shifting to a different gear and calming down for a bit. During that time, I sometimes journal to decompress my feelings, clean my workspace a bit so it can look and feel refreshed for a new study session. Or sometimes I can just lay down and take a cat nap. Another thing that is helpful is baking. I love to make anything from biscuits to cookies. Feeling accomplished with baking something and getting to eat a sweet treat afterwards is always a reward to me. Especially because I get something done that was not on my “to do” list. If you ever need any recipes, ask family, look online, or reach out! Those are more in-the-moment activities that I like to do when I try and decompress. Other things are planning to go out with my friends and do a variety of stuff. Setting up time to go out and get away from a work or study space is always healthy. From getting lunch to planning an evening movie marathon or going to a sports game, can be so rewarding, especially getting to spend time with friends who I cherish. It’s always fun to go out and do things with the people you love and create memories, even the small ones. Since the wintertime is coming up, maybe schedule a date with your friends to go ice-skating or go walking downtown with some hot chocolate. Or even promise each other to go out and build a snowman when we get the first snow of the season (that is if we are on campus when that happens!). Maybe have a Winter themed potluck, having food and drinks that go along with the season. My all-time favorite is apple cider. Since Pitt is diverse with a lot of amazing and different people who celebrate a lot many holidays, maybe set up a holiday party potluck with food from your culture! Other things to try are taking a walk around campus. A quick stretch of your legs around campus can help clear your mind relatively quickly. Or maybe sit in the quad and drink something warm, as the temperature is starting to drop. Being outside and getting fresh air is, well, refreshing. Maybe take a book to read that you don’t need to read for class. I personally have been re-reading the Percy Jackson series as a nostalgic read. Maybe I will go onto the Maze Runner or Hunger Games next! There are also some simple organization skills that can help you take time away from actively studying or doing work. Like I said before, cleaning your desk quickly to reset your mind is super helpful. Or making a to-do list of what needs to get done first, what needs to get done in the next couple of hours, what needs to get done in the day, and what needs to get done in the week. Breaking down your tasks into smaller lists helps it not seem as overwhelming and can help you relax your mind. I hope these ideas may help you, inspire you, or guide you to taking some time for yourself. We’re almost done with the semester - about to enter this last stretch of schoolwork with projects, papers, and exams. Make sure to take care of yourself and your mental health.
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January 2022
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