Known as “The World's Greatest College Weekend,” the Little 500 is one of the largest collegiate bike races in the United States. While many IU students find this is a fun and exciting two days, it can also be a tiring one. During this year’s Little 500 it’s important to prioritize your physical and mental health, and here are some great ways to do that.
Stay hydrated and well-nourished
The first thing you want to do during an exciting, but also tiring, event like the Little 500 is to stay hydrated and well-nourished. It is set to be a warm week in Bloomington during the Little 500 with temperatures around 70 degrees, which means it’s important to prioritize drinking water. Drinking things with electrolytes like Gatorade or Liquid I.V. can be a great way to keep that energy up when it gets hot. Water-rich foods like cucumbers, celery, oranges or watermelon are another easy way to keep up hydration while also making sure you get some nutrients.
Prioritizing mealtime is just as important. Easy to prepare meals like soup, pasta or grilled cheese can be a great way to just eat and relax. Many of these simple meals can also be customized to include different proteins or vegetables that might add some more nutrients to your meal.
Get cozy and watch a comfort film or show
After a long day at Bill Armstrong Stadium a great way to wind down and relax is by getting cozy and watching your comfort show or film. Putting on something you feel comfortable in and curling up with a blanket can be a great way to destress from all the activities of the day. Drinking warm and calming drinks, like tea, which is rich in antioxidants, can also help you relax. Finally, and this may be my favorite part, turn on your favorite movie or show. I personally love watching a comedy or sitcom, such as “Brooklynn Nine-Nine” or “How to Train Your Dragon,” when I am trying to unwind. Laughter is a great way to decrease any negative emotions you may be feeling and, according to the Mayo Clinic, will activate your body's stress response through an increase in endorphins that are released into your brain.
Do something creative
Creativity can be so beneficial to your mental health. Engaging in activities like art can help you express your emotions, reduce any anxiety you may be feeling and improve your self-esteem through the completion of a task. When you engage in a creative activity like drawing in a sketchbook or putting together a fun craft you enter a flow state, a state of deep focus and engagement in the task in front of you. This can relieve any external pressures you may be feeling and improve your mental well-being. It’s also something you don’t always need to plan for in advance, unless you are looking to do something specific. Projects like origami or just some simple doodling can be super easy to put together after getting back from the race as long as you have some paper and maybe a few markers.
Keep your calm with some meditation
What better way to calm yourself than with meditation. Known for reducing stress through practiced breathing exercises and focusing your mind on the present moment, meditation is all about getting your body and mind to relax. If you look up meditation on YouTube there are many short videos that help guide meditation; there are also plenty of breathing exercises you can try available online. But it’s also something you can just do on your own if you have five to 10 minutes to just focus and relax. Just sit down, put on some music you enjoy and take deep breaths. Meditation and deep breathing are great ways to slow down your heart rate a bit and calm your nerves during an otherwise busy event.
