When Midterms Strike: Self-Care

These past few weeks may have been a little crazy for everyone. Whether it's dealing with midterms and papers or job applications and interviews, we could all use a little extra time in our schedule to catch a quick breather. Through all the deadlines, projects, and work we have all been subjected to the past few weeks, we often forget to set aside time for ourselves to practice self-care.

As mentioned in a previous post written last year by alum Kelly Vieria, self-care is extremely important as a part of your regular routine, especially when you are navigating through an especially stressful and tiring mid-term season. Taking steps to take care of your body physically and mentally is key, not only for increasing the chances of doing well on your midterms, but also for increasing the probability that you keep your sanity. In this post I will offer some simple suggestions that can easily be a part of everyone's routine to practicing healthy habits in stressful periods. Also included are productivity tips to help motivate and inspire the masses (hopefully) for a successful midterm season. I know you are probably reading all of our blog posts instead of studying for that midterm, but after this post you might reconsider! (Though we do appreciate the page views)

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Catch some ZZZs
Sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep!! It may seem like you don't have any time to do this, but you definitely do. Making sure you get those 8 hours of sleep will not only make you more productive, but will make you feel better and more likely to remember all that information you are trying to process and cram into your brain. I know the struggle of getting a good night's sleep. I always get distracted by my phone, laptop, or just hanging with my roommates. It might be tough to self-enforce a bed time, but trust me, a regular time is useful. According to a 2011 study college students are the most sleep-deprived people in the country. Here are some obstacles that might be making it difficult for you to sleep:

1. Screen to Face- Looking at a computer/phone screen when you go to sleep may be the reason that you can't fall asleep at night!
2. Inconsistent Sleep Patterns- Make sure you have a consistent routine. Daylight Savings just gave us an extra hour this past weekend, so make the most of it by resetting your circadian rhythm!
3. Late Night Caffeine- Coffee works wonders, but isn't great for good sleep hygiene. Don't have caffeine too close to bedtime, or you'll definitely have a hard time falling asleep.

Food, comida, la nourriture!
Food is where we get our brain fuel. You want to make sure that you are supplying your body with the proper nutrients and vitamins to ensure that your body is in tip top shape. When your body is especially stressed be sure to try and remain as healthy and hydrated as possible. At your favorite study spot be sure to have a water bottle with you and great study snacks. Here are some foods that are great study snacks according to BBC Global:

1. Whole Grains- healthy carbs with low GI, keeps you alert with energy throughout the day
2. Fish- Omega-3 fats are good for brain function! (shout out to Bio 13)
3. Blueberry-Evidence from a study at Tufts that blueberries help with short term memory
4. Broccoli- Good source of Vitamin K to enhance cognitive function and improve brainpower

"Me Time"
Whenever I hear "Me time" I flashback to preschool, when my parents would recommend that I have some "Me time" after having too much sugar (or getting in fights with my sister in the car when she would look out the window on my side - no jokes here, this was a serious issue). "Me time" is great, whether it be reading a book, catching up on your favorite TV show, exercising, or just hanging out with friends. It's always good to take a break from studying, to let yourself relax between intense study sessions. This study by MIT suggests that you take a break every 20 minutes to optimize productivity. It's important to figure out what works for you, everyone's work and productivity habits are different. However, taking breaks is very different from procrastinating, which I will address in the next section.

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Self-Control Apps
Becoming a victim of procrastination is pretty easy in college. It seems there is a never ending list of potential distractions, especially since we can access internet on our phones and laptops so easily (Hello 21st century!). The first step with anything is accepting that you have a problem. If you go into the library and come out with just your heading for your 25-page paper, then you, my friend, have a problem. The first steps towards beating procrastination is acknowledging that you are indeed procrastinating (aka Acceptance). Using online self control apps are great for reminding yourself how much time you put aside for "doing". Here is my favorite Self Control App, which blocks my access to certain sites on my computer for a set time period. This is great for managing your breaks as well, as you get rewarded when the block is lifted. Self-discipline, people!

Remember, everyone, to take a breather when you need to! College is stressful and it's always important to step back and smell the roses (or foliage). Hope everyone is enjoying Fall and had a great Halloween weekend!

Carpe Diem,

Nicole Brooks
Class of 2016

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Treat Yo Self 2015 - De-Stressing Tips

Hello readers!

Can you believe that it's already April? Just think about that.

After experiencing the multiple snow days of Snowpocolypse 2015 and then Spring Break right after that, it almost feels like I've been thrust into the final stretch of the semester without warning. Readjusting to actually having full weeks of class has been a very strange process. From what I've gathered, I'm not the only one with this feeling.

How does studying work, again? Think, think, think...
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Make a De-Stress Playlist. Music has been scientifically proven to have major effects on mood. There's a reason that music therapy is a legitimate field of psychology. In terms of stress relief, music can play a powerful role in calming you down. Here is a list of songs found to be among the most calming in the world. It includes the likes of Enya, Mozart, and even Adele's Someone Like You (maybe that's why it was such a smash hit!).

Clean Your Room. I totally sound like a concerned mom with this one, but hear me out. Cleaning your room can actually have a positive effect on your mood. Having a messy room can leave you feeling distracted and like you have unfinished business all around you. After tidying up, your brain won't have to work as hard to ignore all the clutter. So, put on some pump up music and get to cleaning! Even if you only spend 15 minutes doing it, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment that will leave you happier and much less stressed.

I'm right there with you, Britney.
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Journal or Doodle. Racing thoughts are a major cause of unhealthy stress. If you have trouble turning your brain off when you need to (like as you try to sleep), a pen and paper can do wonders. Consider keeping a journal to write out all the things that are bothering you. If you're the more visual type, try doodling random things when you're feeling super stressed. Sometimes the act of putting something on paper can relieve the pressure building up in your mind.

Keep a hobby. If you're anything like me, you might feel like "free time" has become some kind of foreign concept. There's a lot of pressure to keep busy at a place like Tufts, but constantly being stressed about school work just isn't good for you. Don't slack off and let your academics suffer, but prioritize doing things that make you happy. Having a hobby - whether it be something athletic, artistic, intellectual, or spiritual - can offer you a valuable way to relax.

Get off campus. Being in a certain environment can definitely affect your mood. If you've been spending all day studying like mad, campus might equate with stress for you. Going somewhere that doesn't have that same stressful association can be very healing. It could be as simple as talking a walk to Davis Square, or you could even take advantage of the amazing places all around Boston that are just a T ride away.

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Hang out with friends. If you're a graduating senior, this is super important. Make time to socialize with friends, especially those who might be moving away after graduation! Once midterms wind down (or even if it doesn't), go out and do fun things with the people who helped make Tufts home for you. Friendships are one of the most integral parts of the college experience, so don't take them for granted.

As I'm sure you all know first-hand, college can be stressful. This is especially true if you're like me, about to graduate and become a Real Adult™. However, you can definitely combat that stress by setting time away to treat yourself to nice things. Live a little (or a lot). You'll feel a million times better, I promise. 

Signing off,

Kelly F. Vieira

Class of 2015

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Self Care + the Job Search

In college, I've come to learn a lot about being a person. That might sound  dramatic to you, but it's quite accurate to what I've experienced. I'd argue that one of the main purposes of college is to teach you how to be a person, besides the whole academic growth thing. Being at this point in life just naturally leads to mistakes being made and lessons being learned. It's all part of the process.

My own process involved a series of missteps that led to the various struggles I've mentioned in previous posts. Without going into TMI-territory, I'll just say that during my sophomore year (bleeding into the beginning of junior year), I didn't take care of myself nearly as well as I should have. I was so focused on working and trying to attain perfection (a fruitless endeavor) that I nearly burnt myself out. Don't learn this the hard way like I did, folks.

How exactly can you avoid overwhelming stress? I'm still learning how myself, but I've figured out some strategies that can help maintain the balance that's essential to a healthy mind.

Cake (in moderation!) might be one strategy.
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• Stay organized. I don't know about you, but I get a strange sense of comfort when I've organized my life in some way. I'm the type who will spend hours cleaning my room as a method of stress relief. Something about having everything in its proper place brings me peace. You might not feel the same way, but being organized as you search for a job/internship will make everything so much easier. If you don't know where to start, check out my blog post on organizing your job search

• Find productive spots. I've mentioned this before, but putting yourself in an environment where you feel productive helps a lot. Instead of sitting in your room feeling guilty that you're procrastinating, move to Tisch Library or anywhere else that puts you in a productive mindset. While some people have no problem getting work done in their room, it's often hard to disassociate your bedroom from relaxation and sleep.

• Prioritize sleep. Speaking of sleep -- remember to actually sleep! Being productive and getting work done is awesome, but overworking yourself to the point of sleep deprivation will come back to haunt you. Consider getting around 8 hours of sleep each night which is just as important as getting your applications done in time. If it's 3 am and you're still working on something, call it a night. You can always continue the next day.

• Treat yourself kindly. You deserve nice things. Even though you might procrastinate and you're not perfect, you still deserve something that isn't work. College students (especially at a competitive school like Tufts) don't always realize this. I'm talking to you, person-who-lives-in-the-library. I can say from personal experience that trying to be "productive" 24 hours a day leads to unhealthy levels of stress. One method is to declare one day each week your "break day". My break day is Saturday. On Saturdays, I won't do any homework unless I absolutely have to, with the expectation that the rest of the week is productive. Break days give you time to breathe. Go shopping, watch a movie, hang out with friends -- in short, it's like Nicole mentioned in her blog post:

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• Ask for help when you need it. Asking for help is a critical part of staying sane during the job search. As you probably know, finding a job can be really stressful. It takes a lot of energy, coordination, and planning. Doing it all by yourself can be overwhelming, and asking for help is never something to be shameful of. The Career Center exists specifically to help you through the process! Don't be afraid to make an appointment at 617.627.329 or you can walk in during Drop-In Hours. Take advantage of all the resources that are offered. Make your tuition dollars work for you, people!

• Sidenote: if you're feeling so overwhelmed that it's hard to function day-to-day, consider checking out CMHS, another life-saving resource on campus.

Believe it or not, those bullet points took me several years to figure out. I just saved you a lot of time with this post. You're welcome.

Signing off (to go treat myself),

Kelly Vieira
Class of 2015

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