10 Ways to De-stress in 10 Minutes (Part I)

With finals around the corner, stress levels can only be on the rise. You can feel it in the air, at the library, and between a quarreling couple. The book you were supposed to write a 12-page report on hasn’t even been cracked open. Those five chapters in your biology textbook you promised yourself you’d read are still waiting for you. To top it all off, you’re out of bread, eggs, and milk, you haven’t showered for two days, and your phone is dying, but the charger is nowhere to be found. GAHHH!

Well, fear not! Here are the first 5 ways to put some “de” in front of that “stress.”

1. Meditate.

Wake up ten minutes earlier than usual. Find a quiet place to sit down. Your bed’s fine, but you may find yourself falling asleep, especially if you’re not a morning person. Clear your mind of any tasks you need to do for the day or didn’t get around to doing yesterday. Close your eyes and keep your back straight. Alternate breathing in from one nostril and out the other by switching between pressing your thumb and forefinger to each side of your nose. The key is to breathe and exhale as deeply and slowly as you can.

2. Jot down your to-do list for the next day right before you head to bed.

Close your eyes and take a few minutes to imagine yourself accomplishing each task. You may start with the easier, smaller tasks, follow your written list, or go in hypothetical chronological order. When you’re finished, mentally wipe your mind clean, close your eyes, and just breathe for the remainder of the time. Once time’s up, tuck yourself in bed if you haven’t already fallen asleep.

3. Engage in your favorite activity, preferably one that helps you unwind.

Listen to three relaxing songs, or one on repeat. I recommend creating a station on Pandora: type in Yiruma, and see where it takes you. Read a chapter from your latest guilty pleasure. Knit. Crochet. Do yoga. Scroll through your Tumblr dashboard or the newest meme site. Go for a run. Whatever you like to do, just do it.

4. As a student, it’s easy to feel constricted and confined to our dorm room or apartment.

The air is stale, the hallways narrow. Take a break from studying. Go outside. Inhale deep breaths of fresh air. Take a brisk walk and leave everything on your mind behind. Do a few cartwheels on the grass. Or opt for a leisurely stroll and notice the flowers blossoming on the trees, the chirping of the birds, the beautiful colors of the sunset, and all that nature is. Seriously. Outside. Go.

5. The Quiet Place

A while back, I stumbled across a lovely site called the quiet place. If you’re listening to music, take a pause. I would close my eyes while the countdown begins, just so I won’t get distracted by anything. This can take as little as 30 seconds or as long as 10 minutes. The choice is yours.