Trouble finding the calm to study or focus? Take 5 minutes to check out ISIC's tips and relax with these 15 things!

Do these 15 things to feel more relaxed

Despite our efforts to try and avoid it, we all feel stressed sometimes. Student life can be extremely hectic and draining, even if it feels like we're living our best life. We might have a lot of deadlines in a certain period, or we get blindsided by a personal emergency or crisis, and our stress level skyrockets. Making sure you relax is necessary to keep your cool, but it's so hard to take your mind off things and relax. We have some great tips for you. Try some of these 15 things and you'll feel at least a bit better.

1. Make a cup of tea

Not only is drinking the tea good for relaxing, but the process of making a good cuppa will take your mind off things for a minute. Carefully choose a blend you like and enjoy the ritual of getting your favorite cup, steeping the tea and smelling the scent. A herbal tea works best.

2. Eat chocolate

Just a piece or two of your favourite chocolate does wonders sometimes. It's a good way to treat yourself and take a little break. Besides being delicious, research has shown that chocolate decreases the stress hormone cortisol.

3. Meditate

Yes, everyone is probably telling you to meditate and it's getting annoying. But give it a go! Just 5 minutes of sitting still and being aware of your breathing is enough to kick-start the advantages of meditation in your body.

4. Close your eyes

Closing your eyes is a way to literally close yourself off from a situation and refocus. It relaxes your eye muscles and can ease headaches or tension in the face. Try to also relax the forehead, and if you have the time, combine this with the five-minute meditation from the last tip.

5. Give yourself a hand massage

You could have someone else do this (even better) but the main message is that a hand massage is super relaxing, even if you do it to yourself. Use a hand creme with a nice scent and massage the palm of your hand and fingers with the thumb of your opposite hand. Don't forget the wrist! A hand massage will take your mind off things and force you to focus on your senses and your body for a moment, and is also beneficial, as your hands can be tired from typing or writing. 

6. Go outside

Just a walk around the block is enough. Getting some fresh air and standing up straight help with foggy brain and it's a better way to take a break than just scrolling through your phone for fifteen minutes. 

7. Look out the window

Along those same lines: look out of a window every now and again. We mostly spend our time looking at screens up close, so give your eyes a break and stare off in to the distance for a while. Taking your eyes off your study material for a moment might also help you grasp a concept in your material you've been struggling with. 

8. Stretch

Nod your head and roll your shoulders: stretching helps ease tension in your body. You can find a lot of at-your-desk stretch routines on YouTube that will help you unclench your muscles so you can feel more relaxed.

9. Dance

Turn up your music really loud and move your hips! Not only is there scientific research that indicates that dancing can reduce stress, it will also get the blood pumping through your body, making your feel more energized and alert. Don't be afraid of looking silly, although maybe the library isn't the place to practice this, as you are likely to disturb others. But dance away at home or outdoors! 

10. Write it down

Having a lot of stressful thoughts? Write them all down. With pen and paper or digitally, it doesn't matter as long as you get everything out of your head and onto the page. Sometimes you'll notice that you don't need to write a lot to get the weight off your shoulders - a few lines might do the trick, and you'll feel lighter instantly. 

11. Smell something nice

Yes, take a good whiff. Some scents are good for your general state of mind. Lavender is known for being relaxing and the scent of citrus (lemon, orange) is good for our general mood, as well as feeling more alert. Peppermint also has that effect.

12. Play a game

This is the excuse you need to get out your Nintendo Switch. Play a quick game and get all of the stress out of your brain. To make sure you don't fall into a game-hole you'll never get out of, set a timer.

13. Laugh

There's a reason laugh-therapy is a thing. Laughing, even if you don't feel like it, produces happy-making hormones in your body. So fake it until you make it! A friend or a few is also a great addition :)

14. Talk to a friend

Having a quick rant to a friend always helps. Get on the phone and just talk to someone for a while. Chances are you'll feel much better after.

15. Clean up

Tidy space, tidy mind. Do a quick sweep around the room and clear any clutter that might be around you. Having a clean (or at least clear) space around you will make you feel less stressed and distracted.