Grad Hack: De-Stress for Success

Summer is great, with its sunshine and opportunities to travel and hopefully a bit of relaxation thrown in.  But the fall semester will be here soon, and with it will be the stresses of the school year.  Figuring out how to get a break from everything can be challenging, but self-care is important.  This month, the GSC came together to discuss dealing with stress; here is what they came up with.

• “I always make time for the gym, it's the best way to de-clutter my mind!”
• “Give yourself an at-home spa day with face masks, hot towels, and foot soaks/scrubs.”
• “Find a 30-minute comedy on Netflix or Hulu and give yourself a break from reading, writing and researching (Suggested shows: Modern Family, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Parks and Rec).”
• “If you're stressed to the point of not accomplishing anything productive, and just procrastinating your time away, purposefully take a long break doing something very different from your work - let's face it, you won't be doing that work either way. Personally, I take an hour and play a video game: saving the world while shooting things in the head always calms me down!”
• “Get into a yoga or meditation class—most classes on college campuses have all of the equipment needed.”
• “On days that I feel the most stressed, the best thing I can do for my sanity (and productivity) is get outside and away from technology. Whether it's a walk, run, or just a few quiet moments with a fresh cup of coffee, there's nothing that gets my head back in the game faster.”
• “Find local hiking trails, waterfall paths, and parks.”
• “I'm afraid to admit it, but go watch some mindless TV, or turn on an episode or two of your favorite show on Netflix. The key here is giving yourself a chance to recharge without having to think about anything. If you like reading, go read that great new book you just checked out at the library! Try not to feel guilty either, you've earned a little mindless TV time.”
• “PB&J. Lunchables. A set of swings. Anything that makes you feel like a responsibility-less child for a couple of minutes always makes me feel less stressed.”