By: Pranitha Chillara
The academic year is filled with stressors – from strict deadlines on assignments and tests to the delicate juggling of all your extracurricular activities. Some common physical manifestations of stress include headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, chest pains, and sleep problems. Some common mental manifestations of stress include anxiety, restlessness, lack of motivation, depression, or irritability. By the end of the school year, you’ll likely be exhibiting some of these traits. Summer break is an excellent time to de-stress from the burnout of the academic school year. Here are some ways you can do so.
#1: Reflect on the School Year
Before you push the memories of the academic year to the back of your mind, take a little time to reflect on them. Whether it be through a conversation with a friend, writing in your journal, or simply thinking to yourself, reflecting on the school year can be very beneficial.
Ask yourself some key questions as you reflect:
Which of my study habits worked well? Which did not?
Was my method of organizing my time useful?
Did I reach out and ask for help when I needed it?
What can I do better next year?
Think about the answers to these questions and consider any changes you can make to your habits next year that would lessen your stress and help you become more efficient.
#2: Make a To-Do List (but not the academic kind)
During the academic year, your to-do list might include a long list of homework, assignments, and projects due for each class. For the summer, however, your to-do list should include only fun things. You don’t necessarily have to go on an exotic beach vacation in the Bahamas for a fun summer.
For example, you can try to:
visit and take a hike at your local state park
organize a picnic with your friends
bake and decorate cookies with your family
schedule a movie marathon
de-weed your garden and plant some flowers
spend an entire day at the beach
#3: Unplug from Technology
In today’s society, we are constantly on our devices. Whether we send emails to teachers asking for an extended deadline, take notes in class on our iPads, or simply scroll through our social media updates, we depend on our devices. In order to relax, it is essential to take a break from our devices and spend some time each day doing other fun activities.
Some activities you can do instead of being on your phone are:
finding an enjoyable book to read
spending some time outdoors by yourself or with your pet
start on a workout routine at a local gym
play a board game or card game with your family
#4: Practice Self-Care
Summer is the ideal time to practice self-care and prioritize your mental and physical health. Self-care has been proven to help reduce anxiety and depression, stress, concentration, frustration and anger, happiness, and energy levels.
Some self-care ideas you can engage in are:
eating a balanced meal and staying hydrated
occasionally treating yourself to something special
a spa day, your favorite dessert, a shopping spree, etc.
journaling about the things that made you smile during the day
creating and sticking to an exercise plan to stay physically active
starting the day with a list of positive affirmations you can say to yourself
Of course, it isn’t always easy for people to switch off and enjoy their summer break. Some people may feel they have too much work they need to get done and may feel guilty for taking time off. If you feel like this, the best thing to do is try reframing your mindset. Start to view your summer break as a time to invest in your health and well-being. After an entire academic year of hard work, you deserve to take this summer to be well-rested and ready for the start of the next year!
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