Health & Wellness: Tips to beat midterm stress

 

Midterms are approaching! Here are eight tips to help beat stress and get you through the upcoming weeks:

1. Embrace the nicer weather of spring quarter! Have a bonfire down at Locust Beach with friends, walk the boardwalk at sunset or have a picnic at Laurel Park.

2. Increase your Vitamin C intake! If you like oranges, grapefruits, peppers, guavas, kale, broccoli, kiwi, berries, tomatoes and peas then you are in luck. These foods are packed full of Vitamin C, which has been proven to reduce stress. 3. Everyone knows making a list of all the things you need to do helps with stress. But try penciling out some time to do whatever pleases you at the time. That could be anything from taking a nap, watching your favorite Netflix show, like The Office or Bob’s Burgers, or hanging out with friends. Set some time aside to have a break from your busy life. 4. Learn to say no. Saying no seems so difficult, but it can make your life a lot easier. Don’t feel obligated to say yes all the time, especially when you are stressed out. Committing to too many things adds unnecessary stress that you can avoid by saying no. 5. If you are feeling so overwhelmed you might cry or scream, then do it! Release those

emotions that have been built up. You will feel much better after and hopefully reset yourself so you can keep working. 6. Go down to your nearest pet store or animal shelter and pet some furry little things! Animals have been proven to reduce stress, so go see some fluffy critters. Bellingham Pet Supply, Hohl Feed & Seed Co. and Whatcom Humane Society are full of them. 7. Doing a lot of studying in the library? Go somewhere new to study! Bellingham is filled with hole-in-the-wall coffee shops, so try a new one out.  Studying in the same place all the time reinforces the same thinking process, which isn’t always beneficial for cramming for midterms. Avellino Coffeehouse on Railroad Avenue or Woods Coffee in Boulevard Park are two awesome coffee shops in Bellingham, check them out!

8. Surround yourself with scents that help you! Lemon, lavender, jasmine, rosemary, cinnamon and peppermint scents contain qualities that promote concentration, relieve stress, soothe nerves, improve memory retention, fight mental fatigue and boost energy. Find some candles with these scents and you will thank me later.  

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