As the end of our senior year is approaching there are so many school events to go to. However it is also the time of AP testing and planning what you need for college. All of that has made me pretty stressed out so here are some things that I have done that has helped me be a little less stressed. 

Clean 

I don’t know about you but when I am stressed I clean and rearrange. I think I have rearranged my room around 3 times this month putting all the furniture in different places. I feel like rather than cleaning calming me down its the silence of it. I use that time to think and be present in the moment rather than put on music while I am doing it. I love living in a clean house and seeing things messy really doesn’t sit well with me.

Books
Reading wasn’t always something that I had enjoyed. Maybe it was because of always reading books assigned to me in class that I had felt like there was no time to read books outside of school. I am not really sure however this year I have started enjoying books a lot more. None of the books I read are about things happening in the world, that is what google is for. However I do read books that take you into a magical world. Transform you to become an elf or a fairy in an outlandish world. As you know I clean a lot when I am stressed, one thing my family has been wanting to clean is our book drawer. Where tons of books are stacked in all different angles to fit into the one drawer. I truly believe that nobody has opened that drawer in years. When I ended up cleaning it out I found tons of old treasures that I had forgotten about. Books that I used to read in my childhood that had been stacked away had been opened. Books like Corduroy and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

Skin care

Taking the time out of the day at night or in the morning to focus on yourself is so peaceful. Mostly after a long study day I will put on a facemask and watch a movie. Even doing my everyday skincare routine is something I look forward to. I will put on my favorite music and take the time to be meticulous in every step. Although it’s something small it can truly change your stress level. A way to turn off your mind and do something you love. 

Rotting in bed 

I don’t get to do this often but when I do I really need it. I love spending a whole day or even just a few hours not having to do anything. Watching fun shows or movies and sitting with 100 blankets. Lately I had just watched Madame Web with Dakota Johnson, a movie about Cassandra web who confronts her past and protects 3 girls from a man who wants them dead. Being able to do whatever you want in a day without having anything happening is such a hard thing to do lately. I feel like my life has been pushed to the brim with events and studying that having a day with completely nothing is basically impossible. 

Go outside

I hate the cold and will probably always do. With it being cold for basically half the year I don’t really go outside unless I have too. With that I don’t get to breathe the fresh air and see the sun as much as I should. Lately with spring happening I have taken in the pleasure of being outside. I have ended up biking a lot more, an activity I haven’t done in a while. If you have younger cousins or siblings you know that all they want to do is run around outside. With my younger cousins visiting more frequently I end up being outside most of the time now. Although you don’t have to go do an activity outside to breathe in the fresh air. I have ended up spending the mornings eating breakfast outside as the weather has been nice lately. 

I hope everyone takes the time to spend some time for themselves in these hectic times. Mostly with fun events coming along the way. As exciting as they are, they can also make a lot of stress in your life. From picking the best prom dress to picking the college you should go to. I hope that this blog can bring some ideas of what you should do.