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

Hopefully you’re on the 3rd page of that 12-page paper by now. And you’ve taken a shower.. right? Here is the second part to 10 Ways to De-stress in 10 Minutes.

6. Handwritten Therapy

For sixty seconds (don’t go over!), write down things that are stressing you out, like the 10-page paper due tomorrow by 11:59 pm, or your mess of a room. Then for the remaining nine minutes, write a list of things you are thankful you have or don’t have, things that make you smile, things that make you happy, etc. Do you have flawless skin, an amazing best friend, or long legs that you’re proud to have? Are you glad you don’t have acne, contacts, or an awful roommate to deal with? Write them down! Life doesn’t seem so bad now, does it?

7. Talk it Out

Does your significant other or best friend go to another college? Have you been too busy to check in with the family? Think about the last time you talked or skyped with them. If the answer is more than a week, give them a call. Talk about your day. Laugh about hers. Tell him a joke. Listen to their advice. Set the timer for ten minutes. It might be hard to hang up, but you still have finals to study for, after all.

8. Massages

A day at the spa is usually not within the budget of a college student, and with that, neither is a full-body massage. But if you can find the masseuse among your friends, you’re in luck. Arrange for a ten-minute back rub study break, give him or her five minutes of your best kneading techniques, then switch. Your back and shoulders will thank you.

9. YouTube

Do you like to laugh? Yeah me too, who doesn’t? Watch a couple of YouTube clips à la your favorite comedian. I’m partial to KevJumba, HappySlip, Russell Peters, and Saturday Night Live. Once you’re laughing, endorphins are released from your brain and you’ll be in a feel-good mood in no time.

10. Embrace

I saved the best for last because I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of this kind of therapy. Grab someone you are comfortable with (your girlfriend/boyfriend/best friend/special friend, or someone who looks equally stressed/frazzled), and give them a good, high-quality embrace. Make sure this is not someone who will run away because they have no clue who you are or someone who is not fond of physical contact (they’re out there). Keep in mind this is not one of those awkward hugs you might give to thank your driver from the passenger seat while an awkward gaping hole sits awkwardly between the two of you. This is not one of those half-hearted hugs where your ribs are adjacent to theirs for a moment or two. This is an honest, chest-to-chest, arms-around-the-torso, with maybe some back-rubbing thrown in kinda hug. If done right, this will slow your breathing, bring your heart rate down, and lower stress levels. Guaranteed.

I hope at least one of these ten ways will be able to help you de-stress. If you’d like to share your relaxing experience or let me know who the next famous YouTube comedian is, post below.