You’ve had a more stressful day than usual, filled with more meetings as usual as your projects have been nearing their deadlines. As a student, you’ve just completed your last and hardest midterm. These situations, among many, many others, are all good reason to take the night off and relax. While we may appreciate a night to ourselves every now and then, it’s easy to let the time having done nothing. And while those do-nothing days can be just as-needed, sometimes we want to be productive with our spare time and enjoy it differently. Here are some ways that you can relax and unwind after a long day, whether you have these days once in a blue moon or on the regular.
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Turn on the lights.
Since high school, I’ve been obsessed with throwing string lights everywhere. At home I’ve been in charge of how to set up the Christmas lights for years and have even picked our patio lights. I just love the vibes the right lighting can give. I’ve always associated string lights with cozy feelings, and turn all of mine on when I plan on relaxing in bed with a book.
Put on some comfortable clothes.
Along with the above two tips, changing into something lounge-appropriate can set the mood for relaxation and help you feel less tense. We often develop associations with our clothes. That being said, changing into pajamas or lounge clothes can create an association with relaxation if changing from work mode is difficult for you.
Light some candles.
I like to use different scents depending on the time of year, and have others that I use to de-stress. If you’re living in a dorm or don’t like to light candles, wax warmers are a great option. You can get wax cubes in every scent imaginable, and depending on how much wax you use, the scent can be stronger than a candle. If you like the looks of a candle, there are also flameless candles, but I haven’t found as much of a variety of scents. Mine don’t really smell as much anymore, but I do think the flickering lights of them is calming.
Have a spa night.
Take the time to take a bath, put on a face mask, do your nails, and anything else that you’ve been wanting to do. Oftentimes we do these things in a rush because there’s something we deem more important that needs to be done. Now you can take your time and relax, and feel the difference as you no longer have to worry about those things for the night. On nights like these I enjoy using a nicer product, making a hair mask, or spending extra time doing something interesting with my nails.
Read a book.
I love curling up to read at the end of a long day, particularly a good fiction novel. Whether you’ve got a library card, audiobook subscription, or an online library, it’s easier than ever to find plenty of books. I love getting lost in a good book, and for me it’s a great way to relax my mind and de-stress. For book suggestions, I highly recommend Goodreads – if you’ve got an account, let’s be friends!
Indulge in something you wouldn’t normally have.
While I am a fan of routines, I think it’s nice to treat yourself to something every now and then to make it that much more special. For me, that’s a special recipe, or oftentimes in the winter, I’ll make hot chocolate with plenty of toppings. If you want to try a new food or attempt a recipe, now’s the time to try it!
Have a casual outing with friends.
While most of these ideas have to do with staying in, I think this is a great tip as well, especially for college students, because I would rely on this quite a bit. After one of the hardest midterms of my college career, I met up with some of my friends in the class at the campus restaurant. We weren’t allowed to talk about the contents of the exam, but we all just silently agreed when deciding to meet up that it was the hardest exam we’ve ever had. So instead of discussing it, we stayed positive and talked about what we can look forward to and how everyone was doing. I’m really glad to have had that lunch with everyone and I think we were all able to calm our nerves a bit.
Even though we leave a workplace or classroom, we often take the draining feelings or stress with us. I think this option is a great way to talk about other things and let your mind breathe a little bit. Go for lunch or dinner with a few friends or grab a coffee. We also had game nights at school and ordered pizza after heavier patches, which was a great way for us to get a break in for a night before starting our next projects. I say that these outings (or staying in) are especially great for students because it’s a way of looking out for each other when you’re going through the same exams and making sure everyone has a nice balance between studies and fun.
Do something that you’ve been wanting to do for a while, but haven’t allowed yourself the time for.
I’m probably the strangest person I know because of all things to procrastinate, I procrastinate on finishing a TV series or playing a game that I’ve really wanted to play. Why? Because I get anxious during those activities; I feel like I’m supposed to be doing something else instead. (Is anyone else like this or is it just me? I’d really like to know.)
Anyway, there’s probably something else that you’ve been wanting to do for a while. Now’s the time to do it! Instead of repeatedly thinking about how you’ve been wanting to do something let that thought pass and enjoy it. Once your to-do list piles up once more, it could be a little while before you have time again!
Exercise.
One of the other activities I liked to do with friends after a mutually long day was to go to a group fitness class together. Lucky us, our college offered free ones every weekday!
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress. Without a gym membership, there’s plenty of ways to exercise, even if you’re confined to your home during the winter months. There are lots of fun routines you can follow on YouTube, whether that’s bodyweight exercises, pilates, yoga, and more.
What do you like to do to unwind after a long day? Let me know below.
Sincerely,
Julie Anna
