Author: Catherine Giese
Prelim season is upon us, and I think we all know what that means: stress and tears. There is nothing quite like these awful tests to turn even the most centered person into a walking stress ball. It’s a tough time, but you can get through it by following some of these easy mental health tips.
1. Eat dinner
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No, coffee and a granola bar is not a meal. Yes, it’s what your mom would say, but she’d be right. Getting proper nutrition is extra important when you’re trying to stay focused. Besides, taking a break, especially with friends, is a great stress reliever.
2. Get some sleep
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We know you think you don’t have time to sleep, but guess what? You totally do. All that time you waste being unproductive because you’re too tired could be used to be, well, less tired. Seriously, sleep increases efficiency.
3. Meditate
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Did you know that ten minutes of mediation can be the equivalent of a thirty minute nap? If you can’t keep your eyes open any longer, and don’t have the time for a nap, do some deep breathing for full-body relaxation. Make sure you’re emptying your mind, though, otherwise you defeat the purpose.
4. Hug a Friend
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Some people aren’t touchy, but for our more affectionate friends, hugging can be a great way to relieve stress. Not only does physical touch release a bunch of fuzzy, feel-good hormones, but we could all use a little more love during prelim season.
5. Walk to class
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Physical exercise is a great way to improve cognitive function and get some more feel-good hormones flowing, but many of us pay for a gym pass only to skip workouts. You may not be getting that money back (sorry, Mom and Dad), but you don’t have to fall flat on being active. Skip the TCAT and get your heart pumping.
6. Take a warm shower
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Or a cold shower, if you’re into that. The point is: shower. This isn’t only for the well-being of the poor, struggling souls around you, but for your own relaxation. If you have a bathtub, pop in some lavender smelling salts for an extra boost.
7. Celebrate when it’s over!
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Have a wild night on the town, curl up with a book, sleep, go shopping–anything! You deserve it. You worked hard and cried and persevered through long hours at the library, so go blow off some steam. Then get back to work because, well, do we ever stop working?
We go to Cornell, so sanity and mental stability aren’t always words in our vocabulary. However, mental health is just as important as physical health, so make sure you’re taking care of both parts of your well-being. You got this–take a few deep breaths and go!
