Healthy outlets key to surviving college

After a long and crazy day, I’m the first to indulge in a marathon of bad television or just a solid four hours of near-comatose sleep.

More and more, however, I’m discovering the necessity of healthy outlets as a break from stress, work and even those lazy days. While there is certainly nothing wrong with the occasional session of back-to-back movies in pajamas to recharge, that may not be the best way for your particular personality to handle the near-constant grind of balancing a full workload, college and a personal life.

The usual ways of handling stress are fairly well known: working out, additional yoga classes and a calming hobby aren’t all that peculiar to find on any random stranger’s to-do list. There are some small ways to reduce stress in our lives that we may miss if we don’t look closely, however.

Some people go camping, for instance, as a method of getting away and unwinding apart from their hectic “city” jobs. Current schedules may not allow for a camping trip out to a nearby mountain, but a central aspect of camping’s appeal is “getting away” – something we can duplicate on a smaller scale by simply turning off our phones. It really can be as easy as that; I know for me, my phone is a lifeline.

My job requires a near-constant connection to my email, and when figuring out your schedule on the go, almost nothing is as invaluable as a phone; but just turning it off for a few hours is a great way to unwind. With the notifications and the alarms and the to-do list all turned off for a few hours, spend it taking a walk, or sleeping, or even just sitting at home doing something you enjoy – be it knitting, writing or lifting weights. Just knowing that you have that connection severed is surprisingly liberating.

For some, spending time alone may not be the way you recharge – maybe you’re somebody who feels better after spending time with your friends. If that’s the case, invite some people over – chat about life, watch a movie with sarcastic commentary, go shoot a few holes of golf. Whatever it is, don’t be afraid to be spontaneous with it. If we limit our breaks to just another scheduled time slot, they lose their potency. Instead of feeling like a true break from our schedule, it subtly becomes just another time slot to check off the list.

Building these essential habits of a balance between working and studying is essential for healthy long-term living.