Find Creative Ways to Destress this April
It’s no coincidence that April—the month of finals, graduation, and fledgling job hunts—is also Stress Awareness Month. There are parts of life that are unavoidably stressful but luckily, our self-care routines help make it possible to stay healthy and grounded during overwhelming periods of life. You’ll find that some of our most regular Pulse@ChathamU posts address stress, anxiety, depression, and overall mental health and well-being. The ChathamU community cares about mental health and we want to continually stress (no pun intended) its importance. Below you’ll find some spring-centric, end-of-term recommendations for soothing the stress of the next month. We hope you enjoy and/or pass along to someone who might need them—
Incorporate therapeutic techniques to
ease your stress 📿
If you’ve ever tried therapy, you know that therapists often provide stress and anxiety management techniques that can help you in your day-to-day life. But if you haven’t, you’re still in luck. Many stress management techniques employed in psychotherapy are available online—you can check out a few in this Positive Psychology article. That said, we always recommend exploring more intensive therapeutic techniques with a licensed counselor. Consider making an appointment at Chatham’s Counseling Center to get started—check out our full guide here.
Try something new
& low stakes 🛹
One great way to destress is to get outside of your head and into your body. Try a new and exciting activity—one you may not be naturally inclined to—like roller skating, skateboarding, swimming, biking, rock-climbing, lifting weights, or yoga. Check out your My.Chatham Happenings for the latest group classes, events, and adventurous outings.
If you’re already dabbling in enough recreational fitness fun, try your hand at cooking, crocheting, or collaging. If you’re a committed fiction enthusiast, try reading a memoir. And if you’re a lover of music that’s never played an instrument, why not try your hand at learning your favorite?
Immerse yourself in the outdoors 🌸
As winter melts into spring and the days get longer and warmer, find ample excuses to get outside. If you can’t think of any, we have some ready-made for you:
🌱 Do some studying and end-of-term prep in a picnic table or Adirondack chair on the quad.
🌱 Walk to grab lunch or coffee at a nearby café with outdoor seating—might we suggest Cafe Rachel?
🌱 Take a walk or a hike on the Schenley Park trails.
🌱 Lay a blanket on the grass and enjoy a nap outside.
Meditate 🧘♀️🧘🏾♂️
Any list of stress reduction strategies is going to come with a recommendation to meditate. If you want to read about the scientifically proven impacts of meditation, check out this article from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, which lists benefits like improved anxiety and depression, reduced blood pressure, and more.
If you’ve tried meditation before without success, try the free app Insight Timer, which includes a wide-range of guided meditations from professional therapists, meditation gurus, and more. Even devoting a few minutes each morning to focusing on your breath or writing a gratitude list can help you manage stress throughout the rest of your day.
solve a puzzle outside
of your head 🧩
Traditional puzzles may not sound exciting per se, but the world of puzzles is vast and far more varied than you may know. Plus, puzzles are a great way to focus unruly, intrusive thoughts on something tangible—they’re an exercise in mindfulness that can strengthen your brain. The NYTimes’ crossword puzzle, Wordle, and the Spelling Bee are great word games to try. Numbers aren’t really my de-stressing strategy, but if they’re yours, check out sudoku.com.
Create Something 🎨
You don’t have to be an accomplished writer or artist to spend time making art. Spending a little time drawing, coloring, journaling, or crafting can go a long way when you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed. You might consider writing a letter to a long distance friend or putting together a care package for someone you miss. Often, you can just swing by the Carriage House for Marvelous Mondays (every Monday from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm) and find a ready-made craft project.
Give yourself time to decompress & complete the stress cycle ♻️
Are you familiar with your body’s stress response cycle? When your body experiences a stress trigger, you need to complete the stress cycle in order to release the stress and restore calm to your body. There are a number of ways to complete the stress cycle—many of which were already mentioned in this article. According to Amy Rodquist-Kodet, MA, CHWC in this article from the University of Kentucky’s Office of Human Resources, the following activities help you complete the stress cycle: physical activity, creativity, laughter, crying, physical affection (could be a hug or time with a pet), and deep breathing.
And even if you’re not feeling particularly stressed, remember to take time to do things that make you feel like yourself, whether that is catching up with friends, watching a beloved movie, playing your favorite video game, or something else that makes your heart sing. Taking time to do kind things for yourself can work a world of wonder on stress and burn out.
We hope you’ll take the time to care for and nurture yourself this season. Remember, Chatham’s Counseling Center is always there for you—to schedule an appointment, call 412-365-1282 or email counselingcenter@chatham.edu. We also encourage you to explore Chatham’s peer-to-peer support platform, TalkCampus.