RELAX

School may have just begun, but I'm already busy every second of every day. From learning my new schedule to sorority recruitment, these past two weeks are drastically different from my lazy winter break days. A schedule this hectic tends to be accompanied by stress levels that can go through the roof on some days. Luckily, I've been testing out some new ways to relax. Here are my five favorite ways to de-stress:

MOVE YOUR BODY - When you're constantly on the run sometimes it's good to just go for a run. Exercise is the perfect stress release for a busy body. It's a great time to free your mind from all of your worries. It can be 30 minutes or even two hours, but whatever it is make sure to focus only on your activity at hand. If you go for a run or a bike ride make sure to take in the scenery. This is also a great opportunity to listen to some chill, calming music. Instead of blasting Eminem and Ke$ha, try some Bastille or Trevor Hall. Use music to let your mind wander, not to get you overly pumped and aggressive.

EMBRACE YOUR INNER-CHILD -  College is hard. You're on the brink of adulthood, but you're still clinging on to the last remnants of your childhood. Why not embrace the innocence of your youth? Whenever I was stressed during recruitment, I would whip out my coloring book and 64-pack of crayons. Just a few minutes of coloring would instantly calm my mind. You could also make friendship bracelets or work on a puzzle. These types of activities give you a few minutes of peace away from the stresses of the big, scary adult world.

WASTE YOUR TIME - One of my biggest stressors is having too much to do and not enough time to do it all. But every now and then it's good to take a break and do absolutely nothing productive. Whether it's watching the latest episode of The Bachelor or flipping through the pages in this season's fashion magazines, do something that makes you feel good. When you're done, you'll be more ready to tackle the long list of to-dos that have been waiting for you. Just make sure to set a time limit for your unproductivity. You don't want to sit down for one episode of The O.C. and find yourself in the same spot three seasons later.

LOVE YOUR SOUL - Stress is a sickness of the soul. Constantly worrying and fretting will dampen your spirits. So when you're taking a break from you busy day make sure to spend a little time fixing your soul. There are a variety of ways to do this, but yoga and meditation seem to be the most popular. If your school offers yoga classes, give them a shot. Otherwise, the internet is full of yoga and meditation videos for varying degrees of skill. If you're really pressed for time, taking ten minutes to just sit and focus on your breathing can also do wonders for your soul.

EMPTY YOUR WALLET - I'm not suggesting that you go into debt because you're stressed about your Biology midterm, but buying a little treat for yourself is never a bad idea. Personally, I love the mall. Just walking around the mall will put me at ease. But picking up a new top can really brighten my day. New clothes give you the confidence to stack the obstacles ahead of you. Clothes aren't the only thing you can buy, though. A new CD or book can also be the perfect pick-me-up.

There are a thousand different things to stress about on any given day, but there's a million different ways to relax. When you take a break in your day to do what makes you happy, you are more likely to be successful in handling the things that cause you to stress.
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