Sharing Resources

Sharing Resources

October 21, 2019 Reflections from Changemakers 71

This time of the semester is when things really start to pick up and get crazy with midterms, service and life! How do you practice self-care when you are stressed? What is one tool or resource you would recommend to a fellow Bonner feeling stressed or overwhelmed?

71 Responses

  1. Meredith Payson says:

    This time of the semester is when things really start to pick up and get crazy with midterms, service, and life! How do you practice self-care when you are stressed? What is one tool or resource you would recommend to a fellow Bonner feeling stressed or overwhelmed?

    This semester has been a rough one. I genuinely am having the worst semester so far in college and I don’t really do like mental break type self, I just tell myself my facemasks and watching the Kardashians with my roommate is positive and mental a break from the actual circus my life is. I think a good tool for other Bonners to just to not acknowledge the stress and keep going because with crazy schedules is not going to stop for your own mental sanity, everything keeps going and there is no point in letting yourself fall behind just because you have one bad day. you’ll have a better day tomorrow you got this.

  2. Nicole Pazarecki says:

    This semester has been crazy for me, between Bonner, volleyball, school and starting my capstone project. The best way to self-care for me is to make time to go to the gym and really try to prioritize my work. Also, when I know I feel stressed out, I just take a deep breathe and remember that everything works out. I realized that I also have to stop worrying about the little things and remember the bigger things in life.

  3. Stephanie Da Fonseca says:

    As my first experience it’s been pretty rough, but one good thing is that my fellow Bonners understand the weight of school and Bonner. One thing that I like doing to unwind and just relax is just taking a nice shower, doing a face mask and just stay in bed watching a movie or a show. Just taking time to do whatever makes you relax, or something that you haven’t done in a while because of the hectic schedule is great.

  4. Skylar Nijhawan says:

    This time of the semester is the most stressful time of the year for me. I practice self care by either taking a long shower in the middle of the night, going on drives with my roommates and jamming out to our favorite songs, and lately I have started a bullet journal that allows me creativity time as well as productivity. I think one thing I would recommend most to a fellow bonner that is feeling stressed and or overwhelmed is a bullet journal. Because of the fact that I was on medical leave and I am even more overwhelmed then before, Bullet journaling is helping me decompress but also stay on task.

  5. Hayley Pij says:

    This semester I have really been focusing on self care. As my schedule is busier, it is now about me capitalizing on my free time and realizing what I need. One way that I have started to prioritize is through meditation. By clearing my thoughts and relaxing at different points throughout the day, i am able to focus more on what needs to be done! This has been especially helpful in balancing school and social life.

  6. Lulama Nyembe says:

    Around this point in the semester is when I feel things start spiraling out of control for me. Even though I may not be able to control everything that happens right now, I like organising my notes, room and bullet journal to gain a semblance of control. Having some part of my life be organised helps alleviate some of my stress. In as much as I highly recommend Google Calendar, I find it extremely satisfying to just put pen to paper and jot down all upcoming tasks, events in a journal or planner.

    I also find that just being around my friends helps. Time with them allows me to de-stress through laughs and talking to someone who is going through the same thing.

  7. Harriet Koblenzer says:

    This time of the semester is when things really start to pick up and get crazy with midterms, service and life! How do you practice self-care when you are stressed? What is one tool or resource you would recommend to a fellow Bonner feeling stressed or overwhelmed?
    For me stress usually comes in waves, one moment I am fine and then another moment I think of all the work I have to complete and get overwhelmed. In situations where it gets to a point where I need a break, I give it to myself and do something like. Sometimes I will to a deep clean of my room, watch a show or movie, listen to music and get non school work/to-dos done, call my parents, or treat myself to a meal out. To deal directly with what is causing me stress, which is usually school work, I write down a couple of assignments I want to get done, complete those, and when I am feeling less stressed write down the rest of my assignments down and map out when I will get them done.

  8. Mara Golden says:

    It has been a big adjustment for me to go from high school to college and service. There are days when I feel like I’m drowning in school work and that I don’t have enough time to finish everything. When I get stressed and need to take some time for myself I like to listen to music and take naps. Sometimes I go through old music I performed throughout high school and play them on the piano to relax. I have learned that doing things I love and enjoy helps ground and destress me.

  9. Nancy Rasmussen says:

    This semester has been crazy so far!! Between going to class and service to spending time with friends, it’s become a challenge to take some “me time” and really focus on taking care of myself. Recently I’ve been practicing self-care by watching tv at night and going to the gym whenever I can! I would recommend going to the gym with a friend who encourages you and pushes you to be the best version of yourself 🙂 (also lavender essential oils to calm you down at night is a must).

  10. Taylor says:

    By this point in the semester life has become pretty stressful. One way I destress is by doing face masks and making time to talk to my sisters. By calling them were able to talk about our problems and catch up with everything that’s going on. Whenever I call them it takes a weight of my shoulders and makes me feel like I’m back home.

  11. Isabella Barone says:

    I practice self-care by keeping organized. I keep my Google calendar highly organized and color coded (color coding is helpful for organization AND pretty!), and I also put when I have work due on my Google calendar to visual what I have to do when. While organization is great self care, I also practice self-care by giving myself Wednesdays to get things done that are not necessarily related to school, i.e. laundry, cleaning, etc. I really recommend doing your best to carve out a few hours to get everything done that you normally don’t have time to do. I use this time to clean up my desk and “reset” everything.

  12. Kathryn Casey says:

    Sometimes the workload can seem very overwhelming and daunting when you look at all of it at once. One way that I practice self care is I like to break everything down and take it day by day. Also just keeping myself and my room clean really helps me destress. Clutter tends to make me feel more overwhelmed for some reason. I also just try to keep remind myself why I do the things that are causing stress in the first place this gives me motivation.

  13. Kevin Ziobrowski says:

    When I feel stressed out or overwhelmed I always try and work in a group, as this work can function similarly to a social event, and can make the task much easier. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, talk to your advisors, including Katie, as this can really help you gain perspective about the big picture.

  14. Maura Lynch says:

    At this point in the semester, I was totally ready to buckle down and focus on my schoolwork wholeheartedly. However, last week I was diagnosed with mono- which put a damper on that motivation. At first, I was trying to keep doing my schoolwork/ stay on campus/ go to service, but after just continually getting worse I realized that what I needed was to go home and rest.
    Usually, my self care is less drastic. I’ll typically do a face/ hair mask and relax on a school night or schedule a meal with friends during a homework break.

  15. Ivory Moore says:

    This semester has been extremely mentally challenging for me. In order to cope with my stress levels, I found that actually meeting with professors and sharing exactly what’s on my plate and how it makes me feel helps more personally than academically. Being open with your administrators and peers make things a lot less stressful because they understand what your limits are. Other times when I’m stressed in my room by myself, I try to channel my energy to organize and clean or do face & hair masks. Or I change my entire hairstyle as a whole.

  16. Erin Spence says:

    Ever since high school, I have found it to be so helpful to use an agenda a physically write down the assignments I have to do within a certain period of time. It is way too hard for me to remember all of the things I have to do. If I can look at each assignment and take them on one by one, I find that I become much less stressed with the amount of work I have. During the last year, I have found that going for a run can decrease the stress I am feeling a lot. It is so beneficial to get up and move in between studying and classes and I try to make time for this a few days a week. I also make sure to dedicate time, especially over the weekend, to hanging out with friends and relaxing. My friends and I try to plan something that we can look forward to at the end of the week, which helps to get us through a hard week if we are feeling overwhelmed.

  17. Tristan Hunzinger says:

    When I feel overwhelmed or stressed, I usually take a break from what I am doing and remind myself that it is just as important to take care of myself as it is any other priority. I usually like to exercise, play basketball, hangout with friends or sleep when I am stressed.

  18. Justin Kenyon says:

    What I do help alleviate my stress is by finding outlets, and scheduling everything. Whether it be using google calendar or going for a walk are both things that I do to take may mind of stressful things.

  19. This semester has been so chaotic, but when I feel overwhelmed or have a lot to do, I organize. I love to layout on G-cal all the events and requirements I have to attend and in my planner, I write down all the homework I have to accomplish with due dates. I also love to just organize my room/clean while listening to music. I also just tune out all my responsibilities while watching a show or taking a long hot shower. I would say if you are feeling stressed just remember that your mental health and physical health is more important than everything else because, without these two things, you won’t be able to function as well and thrive.

  20. Dana Wakeman says:

    Self-care is very important, but I have found it to be one of the first things that I get rid of when I get too stressed or busy. But, this semester, I have been trying to make sure to give myself a break if I feel that I need one instead of pushing myself to complete something else on my to-do list. This has helped me a lot to be able to maintain the busy schedule better, and to avoid burnout. I hope to continue to do this and also to regularly practice self-care throughout my week. And, my advice to other Bonners is to make sure that you are taking time for yourself, and it may help to get a self-care accountability partner where you tell each other what you did that day or that week to practice self-care.

    • Alexis D'Aloia says:

      Burger King and Crispy Basil!! AND puppies!! You are awesome and you are doing awesome!

  21. Sydney Maughan says:

    I practice self care when I’m stressed by making sure I have at least 30 minutes everyday to take a nap, so I can refresh myself. I also make sure I always have snacks and water with me so that I can stay hydrated and not be hungry during service or classes. A tool I would recommend is to have time management. Once you have that, you can find at least 30 minutes everyday you can set aside for yourself. Having half an hour of breathing time definitely helps me contain my stress levels.
    A good nights sleep is also very important!

    • Andraya Perez says:

      Sleep is important! Happy to hear you have a great relationship with sleep I could learn from you!

  22. LILIANA SANCHEZ ADAMES says:

    One thing I do to release the stress of a lot of course workload and service among other miscellaneous things including work, is to space myself out. Make sure every day I am able to do a small portion of all my responsibilities so that at the end of the week I am able to see that I actually made good progress. In other words, it is all about good time management. This allows me to have time for myself everyday. I leave an hour or so to only take care of myself and that could take in the form of a long shower or watching an episode of my favorite show on Netflix or even taking a nap.

  23. Tori Mangelli says:

    I usually destress by planning time to get a meal with my friends every day. We also all hangout every Sunday night and have “self-care Sundays” where we do facemasks and watch a movie just to relax. This is always a lot of fun just to catch up with everyone and have time not to worry about homework or service. Recently, I have also been going to the gym with my friends and boyfriend in order to destress and get fit while doing it. This usually helps a lot because it is time I set into my schedule just to work on my health, and I always feel better after the gym. I also like to listen to music and be zen when I’m super stressed. Usually, thirty minutes alone listening to music helps a lot. As well as planning my schedule out for the week or weekend to know exactly what I need to do and therefore know how much extra time I have to do more fun things.

  24. Jack McKenna says:

    When I get stressed out, the first thing I do is find a quiet place to go sit, listen to music or just listen to things in my environment, and meditate for a while. In this time I don’t try to sort anything out, I don’t try to solve any problems, this time for me is about being present in the moment, and being aware. When it’s over, I can think clearly, and that’s when I slowly start addressing my responsibilities and stressors. Another thing that helps me is putting all my work away at night, taking a hot shower, getting into bed and read a book, or watch TV, or listen to music, and have alone time to unwind. This also helps me sleep better at night which allows me to be more productive during the day. I also make sure I don’t stretch myself too thin, I didn’t allow myself to join any clubs or teams until I found my groovy and routine. Adjusting to college life was easier than I expected, mostly because I manage my time well and I know my limits. Now that I’ve found my groove I’m able to take on more responsibilities, like intramural soccer and a few clubs. But even with managing my time, meditating, and setting aside some alone time for myself, the thing that saved me was having the upperclassmen in Bonner to talk to.

  25. Amelia Butler says:

    Midterms always seem to make me a bit frazzled simply because it can seem like the end of the semester is too far away. As a senior, I am finally getting to a point where I can honestly say that I know what to do when things get stressful. It has taken me a few years to get here, but I guess it is better late than never. When I used to get stressed or overwhelmed, I would push myself to work through it, which would only make things worse in most cases. Now, I give myself a little time to walk away and focus on something else, but I am also sure to come back to my work and not totally disregard whatever I was working on. By using this technique, I force myself to admit when I just can’t handle the task at hand while also building in time to take care of myself and my needs. I am also a big believer that snacks and a facemask can cure almost anything, so I am always available if anyone needs a hug, some candy, and a buddy to do a facemask with.

  26. Aedan says:

    My method for dealing with stress is to spend 10 minutes taking a step back. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of commitments we all have at school, but I find it super helpful to remind myself that 10 minutes will rarely make a difference in changing that. Taking that time to be outside, listen to music, or journal will generally make me feel much more grounded and allow me to carry on with what needs to be done. Often I find that what I was stressed about was not a daunting as I originally thought that it was.

  27. Cody Romani says:

    There have been many times already during the semester when I have felt super stressed with balancing my time. This semester, I have not been getting the amount of sleep I would like. To practice self-care, I spend time with friends and take breaks in between my homework. I do my best to find time during the day for my three meals a day and make sure my body is remaining healthy. One recommendation for other Bonners when you are feeling stressed is to take like 10 minutes to sit quietly and reflect on the good things in your life. Remember that you are loved and try to remain positive.

  28. Pierre Dalce says:

    Stress is the product of the mind. You only feel stressed when you think too much and make yourself stressed. Organization is the the key to keeping stress away. Google calendar, planners, and canvas will become your bestfriends. If you stay organized, up to date, and spread your assignments out and STICK to a plan that you have made then you should be able to handle everything with ease. With that being said it is also healthy to figure out what keeps you relaxed and calm. For me it is in going to the gym and stay physically active and physically fit. For others it might be yoga, reading or anything that they enjoy. We are not adults yet, we still need to make time for our fun.

    • Alexis D'Aloia says:

      SO glad you acknowledged that we’re still college students, and still need to find time to have fun!

  29. Kayla Sweet says:

    I have only gotten through this semester because of self care. I really like to be by myself and go to get coffee, shop or do laundry. Allowing yourself to be alone and still do the things that make you happy can give you strength in a time when you don’t in control or strong. I recommend making a realistic list of things you want to get done in a period of time and then when you complete them celebrate with one of your designated self care practices!

    Another tip is to work self care into your daily practices. Personally I’ll have a face mask on while I do my homework or perhaps a glass of Shiraz by my side. You know, for self care.

  30. Kathleen Callery says:

    When things get stressful my most helpful tool is my parents. They tend to be people who keep me focused on the important things and help me let go of extra stress. Additionally, I enjoy spending time doing yoga and cooking food. I think de-stressing has to be centered around things you find enjoyable.

    • Alexis D'Aloia says:

      Love this… I totally lean on my mom whenever I’m stressed and she helps me to see a different perspective!

  31. Samantha Lunt says:

    It has definitely been an adjustment these past few weeks trying to balance everything that needs to be done while still finding time to take care of myself. What I like to do is just try to give myself a little break in between doing the things I need to do. What helps me to destress is just doing simple things like calling my mom, hanging out with friends, or even just cleaning my room and sometimes just doing nothing for a little bit always makes me feel a lot better. One thing I would recommend is just to write everything down that you need to do. At the beginning of each week I like to write all the things I have to do assignments and other things down so I know exactly what I have that week. This has just helped me to be able to manage my time and I love when I can cross something off!

  32. Brendan says:

    I think the two most important things to do when going through college are: making sure you are organized and on top of tasks, and also making sure you have time to enjoy life.

    For staying organized (for classes, Bonner, clubs, etc.) it is useful to have things like Google Calendar or an academic planner to keep track of all the things you need to accomplish. If you get in the habit of not using these tools, you will likely forget something eventually or fall behind on one of your tasks.

    It is also important to make sure that your life is not completely consumed by work, and that you take time to enjoy life with friends or take an occasional trip home to see your family. Also, make sure you are answering your mom’s phone calls.

    Additionally, (this might not work for everyone) I make sure to go to church on Sunday. While not everyone is religious, or they might practice a different faith than I do, I think it is important for all of us to take time to reflect on the past week and think about what we can improve upon in the week ahead. For me, going to mass is a good way to reflect and just take an hour out of the week, slow down, and think about how things are going.

    • Dana Wakeman says:

      You are absolutely right, G-cal is a live-saver! I’m also a big fan of Google Keep to make to-do lists.

  33. Grace Harris says:

    This has been a crazy busy and this semester self care has really fallen though the cracks and this blog post was a good reminder to take care of myself. I have been really good with getting enough sleep at night and I have been working on mindfulness and reminding myself if I have gotten through this once I can do it again. I know I need to start managing my time better and start having a better attitude. Rather than seeing this semester as a burden and terrible and wishing for it to be over- I want to take this as an opportunity to challenge myself and grow. I need to start. I would tell my other Bonners one of my favorite phrases ” you can’t pour from a empty cup” so take care of yourselfs!

    • Jamie del Rosario says:

      This post is so relatable, we can do senior year! But moreso, we can enjoy it and grow from it too.

  34. Marykate Del Gais says:

    As life has become more demanding these past couple of weeks, I have found it hard to find time to care for myself. Between keeping up with my academics, attending service, and other commitments, life has certainly been crazy. One thing I have attempted to do during this hectic time is giving myself a break between each task. During these breaks I like to occupy my time by hanging out with friends or taking naps. I think making a list to keep track of all my assignments has been helpful as well. Seeing it written out helps me prioritize my work. My advice to my fellow Bonners is to not worry about the little things. Everything you have is going to get done eventually, so don’t work yourself up over whatever the task may be. Remember there is someone out there feeling the same way you are, so taking a break to socialize with friends or grab food wouldn’t hurt! The assignment will still be there when you get back. And remember to always try your best!

  35. Nia Colon says:

    I practice self care by taking time to get the rest that I need. I also make sure I have time to hang out with my friends when I need a break. I would tell other Bonners to maybe go to the gym to help reduce some stress that they may have.

    • Dana Wakeman says:

      It’s great that you practice self-care so much! And, you are doing a great job balancing nursing and Bonner!

  36. Kiara Woodward says:

    Self care this semester has taken the form of sleeping, eating non-saga foods, and taking a moment for myself. When stressed I find that I need time to refocus and prioritize in order to get all of my tasks done in an order that makes sense.

    Some tools I would recommend when feeling stressed and overwhelmed are your google calendar to keep all your responsibilities organized, your friends/CA/Counseling Center/Office of Health Promotion if you need an ear or to talk something through, and make a list that you can check even small things off of so it feels like you’re making a dent. All of these acts help me stay grounded when things get hectic.

    • Jamie del Rosario says:

      Having non-saga food can really make a difference though… even if it’s just from switching up routine and treating yourself with the favorites.

  37. Chandler Edbauer says:

    How do you practice self-care when you are stressed? What is one tool or resource you would recommend to a fellow Bonner feeling stressed or overwhelmed?
    I normally destress by calling my girlfriend every night. Talking about the ups and downs of your day is a good way to get it out of your system. When I get all the stuff I did out then I can complain because my day was bad or be happy because I had a good day. After I get my feelings out then I forget about it and fall asleep ready to start a new day.
    I recommend going to the gym. I recently started going again since high school and find it very relaxing and satisfying when I am done. It takes a lot of will power to get myself to the gym but once I’m there I finish what I started. When I’m done I am no longer stressed, I feel stronger and better about myself.

  38. Jamie del Rosario says:

    When I am stressed, you can usually tell pretty quickly because everything I do seems to be sped up. That’s why I often have to take a step back and give myself a moment to breathe and slow things down a bit. I practice self-care by going to the gym and climbing (regularly when my schedule allows it!), and allowing myself time to not be worrying about work.

    A resource I always recommend to students on campus that are feeling overwhelmed would be the counseling center. Numerous people on campus use this as a way to process what is going on in their lives, both academically and personally, and it can be a great help in working through some of those overwhelming thoughts or feelings.

  39. Alexis D'Aloia says:

    This time of the semester is certainly chaotic in every way! I try to stay on top of my work during this time of the year and give myself long breaks in between to ensure I’m well rested. I practice self-care by taking naps, hanging out with friends, and getting off campus away from my normal routine. To be able to completely take my mind off my responsibilities for a bit is super helpful in re-energizing myself for when I come back to schoolwork, classes, internships, etc. One resource I would recommend to a fellow Bonner feeling stressed is to lean on friends and mentors for support. Sometimes all you need is someone to listen to everything you have going on, and to be able to have that conversation with someone can be a huge relief!

  40. Abby Hoekman says:

    With all of our responsibilities as students (during midterms especially), it can be challenging to slow down and take time for yourself. I practice self care by little daily exercises such as staying hydrated, making sure I remember to eat throughout the day, and attempting to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. However, at least one day of the week I schedule in time for myself to recharge by coloring and listening to music or by going to the gym to relieve pent-up stress from the week. One tool I would recommend to a fellow Bonner feeling stressed or overwhelmed is to make a to-do list for each day of the week, breaking down your must-do tasks by day so that it becomes more manageable. This can be a great way to stay motivated and to feel a sense of accomplishment throughout the week, rather than feeling you are playing catch up or have a massive mountain of impossible work to accomplish. I hope you are all doing well and no matter what you have going on this week- you got this!! B-love, Abby

    • Jamie del Rosario says:

      We love some self-care days! Keep it up, it’s awesome to see you incorporating this into your schedule.

  41. Abeer Jafri says:

    This semester has been good, but it sometimes feels like I have to tackle several objectives continuously without any breaks. Although I rarely have time to unwind during the work week, I try to take some time for myself over the weekend. One way I like to do this is by painting and listening to music. I give myself a few hours to do this, and tell myself I will not think about my responsibilities during this time. I encourage my peers to find something like this that can distract them from their everyday concerns, and be an outlet for them. Also, my advice to avoid stress would be to live in the moment and appreciate what you are doing currently, rather than worrying about the past or the future. This will make you a lot more focused and grateful for your current state.

  42. Kylie Gilbride says:

    Making lists is something that helps alleviate stress for me. I utilize google calendar regularly, but for me, it is extremely important to physically write out the things that I need to do. These things could be class, service, capstone, or post-grad related, but they can also be out-of-the classroom commitments as well. Physically writing out what need to get done, I found, is important to do in addition to google calendar because it helps me to prioritize my tasks. Having a kitchen this year is also so great because I have really turned to cooking when I feel that I need some self-care time. I feel that cooking is also an important, guaranteed non-academic part of my day that I genuinely enjoy when I have the time to do so.

  43. Michael Averill says:

    I have been extremely busy this semester with my academics, Bonner, being a Community Assistant, writing for the Promethean, and playing Ultimate Frisbee. At times, I feel very overwhelmed with all of the commitments I have made.
    I probably don’t practice self-care enough, but when I do, it always involves just being with my friends. Whether its getting off campus, playing video games, or going to a fun Siena event, we always try to make time to enjoy college. My advice to all Bonners is to not let the little things stress you out. We all only get to do college once, so you should make the most of it and enjoy yourself from time to time. Siena offers a lot of great experiences that create lasting memories, so get out and enjoy college instead of stressing about it!

    • Jamie del Rosario says:

      It’s definitely important to start building up that self-care routine now to carry into your junior and senior year, especially with all of your different roles on campus. Your advice is spot on though, have fun!

  44. Andraya Perez says:

    This is the part of the semester where things start really picking up for me with service, capstone, school, and life in general. One way I like to practice self-care is by going on walks. Whether that’s on campus or a hike with my friends I have noticed that this has helped me relax a lot. Another that I found that I have really enjoyed is cooking. Living in a townhouse with my best friends we like to come together and cook for each other, I love it. I would say to make sure in each day you have your time, that’s my advice and to take a moment to evaluate when you’re stressed to breathe.

    • Dana Wakeman says:

      I love the idea of cooking for one another! It allows you to share family recipes too or to learn more about cooking!

  45. Marlie Frisco says:

    This semester has been flying by. Between service, life, and academics, it is a little hectic. I practice self-care by scheduling time in my calendar to spend it with my friends. Even if its just doing homework in the same place, my friends are the ones that give me energy and encouragement to keep working hard. However, I make sure that all of my time is not filled with work. With this, I make a family dinner with my friends or have a movie night.
    One tool that I would recommend to a fellow Bonner that is overwhelmed or stressed out would be to use your google calendar. That is what I do and it allows me to allocate time for everything that I need to accomplish. While some are overwhelmed by a full calendar, I fill my calendar with everything I need to do so that I can physically see that there is actually enough time in the day to do it all.

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