Ways to Reduce Stress during the School Year
At this point, summer is long gone. The days of sleeping until 11:00 and lounging all day seems worlds away from the burden of tests, essays, homework, and, if your a senior like me, college applications. While there is little time for relaxing, it is important to squeeze in a bit of time to relieve the pressures of school, even if it’s doing frivolous things like watching TV or flipping through a magazine. Below are my favorite ways to reduce stress during the school year!
Looking at Zillow -- Find your dream NYC apartment and your summer home in the Hamptons. As a real estate junkie, I love to look at beautiful homes. It’s also just fun to pick out your dream home and mentally escape.
Flipping through fashion magazines -- Whether you just sniff the perfume samples or delve into each article, fashion magazines are a great way to feel fabulous and up-to-date. My favorites are Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
Listening to Bossa or Jazz -- I often listen to either while I’m doing my homework or on my drive to school. Unlike rap or other types of popular music, it isn’t distracting and is great background music. It also makes you feel sort of fabulous, since it gives off very 60s vibes.
Watching TV -- TV keeps me sane. After a long day at school, I need that hour or so to just de-stress and escape. This gives your brain a chance to relax and recharge before you have to work again. I recommend watching something that isn’t emotionally or mentally draining. My favorite genre, believe it or not, is reality. It may not seem like a very elegant activity, but as long as you look at it with a critical eye, I think it’s perfectly fine. For some people it is the ultimate stressor, but I love it because it’s a total escape: I don’t have to think about anything other than what’s going on on the screen. My absolute favorite is The Real Housewives of New York City, which is, ironically, somewhat of a parody on manners. I’ve actually learned a lot of lessons about bad behavior (most of which included pinot grigio-fueled catfights and hypocritical judgments), some of which even inspired me to write this book.
Watching your favorite films -- Like TV, I also use movies to escape. However, what I love about films is that they have the power to inspire your life, whether it’s in fashion, decor, or anything in between. My personal favorites are chick flicks like Legally Blonde, Clueless, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, etc. I feel most confident when I feel the most feminine, and watching a girly movie helps with that. When I see Elle Woods reading through law books and taking notes while getting her hair highlighted during the studying montage in Legally Blonde, I immediately feel more motivated. When I see Holly strolling down Fifth Avenue, I can mentally transport myself to New York. They just make me feel fabulous.
Browse clothing online -- Looking at beautiful things always makes me feel better. Sometimes, when life feels like too much, I just need to browse the Bergdorf Goodman website, and the sequined gowns and Hermes china will boost my spirits.
Redecorating - I love to look at the Neiman Marcus website and pick out furniture for the perfect Park Avenue apartment. However, it is also fun to freshen up your actual room a bit. Perhaps find a set of cut-velvet pillows you love on Etsy or a new piece of art.
Talking to your parents or friends -- I’m someone who needs to vent constantly. Talking it out can help you feel like you have some control in your life, as you can address what is stressing you out and how you can solve it. Also, it helps to make sure that the stress doesn’t bottle up.
Look at blogs -- I didn’t just add this to advertise my own blog, but they are great to read for inspiration. My personal favorite blogs to read are about fashion, but you can find basically any niche you want. You could probably even find a blog that helps you manage stress!