Maybe I’m the only one, but these past few weeks, I’ve noticed that a lot of people are a little tense. Maybe we’ve been a little out of sync since that whack LSU game. Maybe it’s because the weather can’t make up its mind. Or maybe it’s because we are littering our minds with petty things that don’t matter. But whatever the reason may be, it’s impacting our campus.
Like that pesky gray cloud that hangs over Eeyore, bad vibes can linger over the setting, making the scene more foreboding than it may actually be. Recently, there have been some exceptionally high-profile moments that have ebbed away at the general positivity of our student body. A bomb-threat and stabbing challenged our feeling of safety; and with sources of stress between student and faculty, frustrations among the greek system and pressure from upcoming finals, a lot of people are praying for the arrival of winter break. But why does this semester seem so exceptionally frustrating for so many people?
Getting too wrapped up in activities and schoolwork is a hole that many students find themselves falling into. I have found myself so wound up from the stresses of responsibilities that I end up in a spiral of stress. Not only is this unhealthy for your body, but it’s unhealthy for your mind, too. But I’m allowed to use this column as an opportunity to give advice, right?
Well, I’m passing on the best advice I have received this semester: give yourself at least one hour a day to spend doing, well, not much of anything at all.
We’ll call it “Airplane Mode.” Airplane mode turns iPhones into iPods, stripping it of its ability to access the Internet, make phone calls or send text messages.
Airplane mode means about the same thing for myself. I cut at least an hour out of my day in which I put my phone away and take some time to myself. Whether that means going on a run or reading, watching four episodes of “Futurama” or doodling, during that time, I don’t worry about work or school or extra-curricular responsibilities.
I avoid my phone and the Internet, and allow myself to remember what it’s like to have some personal space. Allowing yourself to spend that time just alone gives your brain a chance to wander around. Sometimes I daydream, sometimes I analyze, but I ultimately allow myself to sit and think everyday.
Why is this important? For me, it allows me to not only take a break throughout the day and chill out for a little bit. Also, from a health standpoint, it’s imperative to get a break from stress. But most importantly, it allows me to step back from the hustle and bustle around me, take the pressure off of my shoulders and put everything in perspective. When I allow myself to clear my mind, I remind myself of my priorities and my goals. Most of the time I realize that what was driving me insane earlier in the day isn’t really that important.
You can probably add the minutes you casually waste throughout the day to each other and find they equal an hour. So, consider taking your smaller, sporadic breaks and turning them into one collective hour of rest for yourself every day. During that time, spend it by yourself doing something you enjoy. While you’re floating around in Airplane Mode, remind yourself of your priorities, goals and values. And while often our priorities are legitimate sources of stress, you might find that you are worrying about things that normally aren’t even on your radar.
Now, consider how much more enjoyable your environment would be if you and those around you took an hour to yourself to de-stress. Sure, it’s an optimistic hope, but I swear by it nonetheless. The change in our community is reflective of the members of the community. If we allow ourselves to sit back and reevaluate our priorities on a daily basis, then I believe more efficient growth will be accomplished; positive growth based around positive people.
SoRelle Wyckoff is a junior majoring in history and journalism
