
I always thought senior year was supposed to be "the year of fun." Whenever I saw seniors lying around the great lawn on campus, or lounging around elsewhere not doing homework -- ever! -- I assumed that one day I would take on that carefree, couldn't care less spirit, and spend my days napping, watching bad TV and enjoying my last year of absolute freedom. What a beautiful scenario, right?
Let me tell you though, that couldn't be farther from the truth. Not only do I have more homework than I ever did, -- don't ask me why, I honestly have no idea -- I also have to worry about finishing my major/minors with the best grades I possibly can, of finishing a thesis, and, to top it all of, I have to worry about the impossible (really, really, impossible) task of finding a job.
Talk about stress, huh?
And since I know I'm not the only senior, -- or freshman, or sophomore, or junior, -- that's currently dealing with more stress than anyone should ever have to handle, I've put together a small list with the most effective strategies for dealing with stress on a college budget and with limited college resources.
Drumroll please!
- Yoga/meditation: I know what you're thinking. Of course I had to include yoga in this post because stress + yoga = match made in internet heaven, right? I promise though, this really does help (and I really do practice yoga on occasion, so I'm not lying through my teeth here.) I don't know what about it helps so much -- probably the fact that you are all but forced to take so many deep breaths, -- but I really do notice a difference in how relaxed I feel before and after a yoga class. Plus you can't really concentrate on balancing a pose and solving all of your life's problems at the same time, so you have to let go of the never-ending cycle of worry (at least for an hour or so).