reflecting and relaxing

From coming up with your college list to applying to schools to finding financial aid, there can be a lot to take care of. With this in mind, we wanted to ask you to take a few seconds to reflect on what you’ve done so far.

Questions to think about throughout the year:

• What things have you finished so far this year? List them out!

• Is there anything you’ve been putting off that you’d like to complete in the next year?

• Who’s been the most helpful as you’ve worked to reach your goals?

• Have any of your goals after graduation changed?

• What’s one thing you’re going to do over your next break to relax?

That last question can be tough to answer, so we’ve put together some ideas you can try out!

Before the week starts, try asking yourself these questions:

• What are my goals for the week academically, socially, and personally?

• What are my priorities—do any of these goals have a deadline?

Doing this can help you figure out what you want to focus on doing this week, and what tasks you need to finish to do this.

Exercise not only gets you physically fit, but it’s a natural way to help decrease depression and anxiety. You don't have to start bodybuilding in order to exercise: simply walking a mile with some headphones on or doing daily stretches can be everything you need to feel more centered with yourself. You can even get active or stretch out while at home!

We all get distracted, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try to avoid them:

• Disable text notifications on your computer, put your phone in another room, and try to find a quiet place to work.

• Some distractions are unavoidable, but you can have a plan in place to minimize them, like wearing headphones to block out noise or having a snack on-hand if you know you get hungry while studying.

• If you find yourself checking your phone or browsing the internet, use these as rewards instead of distractions. If you accomplish a certain task, then you can check social media.

There’s a reason we treasure our parks, waterways, and beaches. Think of the times you enjoyed a great sunrise or sunset, took a scenic hike, rode your bike in a park, played in the snow, or just took a walk around your neighborhood. Remember how it felt? There is something to our relationship with the outdoors that makes us feel good, if we can allow ourselves a few minutes to be calm, not rush, and turn off our phones. We know it’s cold, so you might start with just going outside to breathe in some fresh air right now—even a little bit of nature goes a long way.

A creative outlet can be a great way to convey your thoughts and feelings and get them out of our brain. This could include journaling, writing poetry, painting, drawing, doing photography, dancing, playing music, or an online coloring book. The key here is channeling your thoughts, ideas, emotions, dreams, and anything else you want through an art form. While some may choose to do this seriously and take lessons, self-taught artists of all kinds also get the job done. Don’t strive for perfection! Simply immersing yourself in creative arts can help ward off adverse thoughts and feelings.