Having a day off every once in a while from classes can be nice if you manage your time well. Thursday’s Wellness Day is the final one IU is giving students this semester, so if you can manage to find some time off between doing homework and studying for finals, try to make the most of it. And, if you can, find breaks to take a breather during the last week of classes and finals week as well. Even if it’s something simple, there are ways you can enjoy yourself.
Go for a nature walk
Getting outside, even if it’s just for a little bit, is great for both your physical and mental health. In addition to letting you admire scenery, walking can reduce blood pressure and joint stiffness and improve muscle endurance, among other things, according to the Arthritis Foundation. If you’re in Bloomington, a great place nearby to go for a nature walk is Brown County State Park, which covers nearly 16,000 acres of land and has plenty of hiking trails.
Write in a journal
According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, journaling can help you manage stress, anxiety and cope with depressive symptoms. One day off from classes certainly won’t be enough time to solve every problem in the universe, but channeling some anxieties you may have into writing could be a good way to spend at least part of the day. A journal can be whatever you want it to be. No one ever has to see it, so you should feel free to write short stories, essays, bullet points or anything else you want.
Make playlists for different moods
Music can help us work through so many different emotions. Making playlists for various moods can be a fun and rewarding endeavor; Just focus on the emotion you’re feeling and see which songs pop into your head first. This process usually leads me to other songs I associate with the same emotion. Before you know it, you’ve got playlists for many feelings – sadness, happiness, anger – whatever it may be.
Organize school and office supplies
I find cleaning and organizing to be very peaceful, and when I know where everything is, I don’t waste precious homework time looking for a pencil or sticky note. According to the Harvard Business Review, when your workspace is clean, it has a positive effect on your cognition and emotions. So before you make that final push to the end of the school year, consider using Wellness Day or some time during dead week to declutter your desk and room.
