College Student Series: Post-Midterm De-Stressing

For my college students out there, yup – it’s that time of the year again: the oh-so-dreaded MIDTERMS SEASON. It doesn’t matter how prepared you thought you were; one by one, these midterms are rearing their ugly heads and reminding us why we really shouldn’t have waited until the night before to start studying.

And, if you’re anything like me, you’re a HUGE stress-er. Whether it’s the big things or the little things – you stress, stress, STRESS. So one test score might feel like the end of the world. But before you start having thoughts of dropping out or questioning your life purpose, take a step back and BREATHE.

One failed midterm will NOT determine the rest of your life. It may seem to have an enormous impact right now, but that feeling will pass. However, if you’re still hung up over how poorly your last midterm went, or even just exhausted from all of the studying, here are a few things that help ME (and hopefully you, too) get through these stress-filled days and put me back in top condition for when the next round of midterms come.

 

1) TALK TO A FRIEND

Right after I take a midterm, I always want to talk to a close friend – whether it’s to whine about my midterm or just to take my mind off of the horrible exam. Sometimes, it even helps to talk to a friend who took the same midterm, if just to confirm your thoughts of how hard and evil the test was, because chances are, you’re not the only one who found it really difficult.

At worst, when you get that less than satisfactory grade back, you’ll have a buddy to keep you company and maybe buy you food to cheer you up.

2) TAKE A DAY OFF AND HAVE SOME QUALITY “YOU” TIME

Sometimes the best feeling that comes from finishing a midterm is just simply knowing you’re done. And since you’re done, you should fully relax and focus all of your energy on you. You know how hard you worked to study for your midterm and so, regardless of the result, take some time to heal and recover.

I’m not saying you should skip class, but find a day where you’re less busy and do things you enjoy! Whether it’s staying in bed all day and getting comfy with your Netflix or taking a nice walk around the neighborhood – just dedicate a day to yourself. This will give you time to forget about the struggles of studying and get you back in shape for any obstacles heading your way.

3) DIVE INTO THAT RETAIL THERAPY

As much as I hate to admit it, when midterms get me down, I definitely turn to some good ol’ retail therapy. Usually, after a particularly bad exam, I’d find time and hop on a BART to San Francisco, where I’d spend the day (or most of it) shopping. More recently though, my schedule has been so packed that I hardly have the time for traveling and so, online shopping has become my new best friend.

Of course, I wouldn’t encourage reckless spending, but there’s no harm in doing a little shopping to cheer yourself up. In addition, there are some great alternatives to big department stores/franchises such as online marketplaces like your local student exchange groups or platforms like Pixiboard. At the moment, I’m eyeing some cute scarves (only $15!). If you’re like me – not enough time to go shop in person and you’re looking to browse through a wide assortment of things, check it out!

4) CHILLAX

My last step is pretty straightforward and simple, so let me just put it like this: EAT, SLEEP, CHILLAX! What always brightens my mood is eating some delicious food and getting a good night’s sleep, so TREAT YO’ SELF. Let your body indulge in some healthy and tasty food before sleeping the day away. Ah, I don’t know about you, but that definitely sounds like the ideal recovery from a bad exam to me. 

ALL IN ALL, midterms are something that all of us, as college students, will encounter at one point. I know I’m not alone when I say midterms are one part of the college experience that I wouldn’t mind missing out on, but since they’re pretty much here to stay, let’s all just do our best to prepare ourselves for these stressful days and to properly de-stress afterwards!


#midterms #relax #seemlessshopping #pixiboard

Confessions of a Hoarder

I like to call San Francisco the world’s tiniest big city, because it offers everything you need and more, all reachable within a 30-minute time frame. What more can you wish for in a city? However, the downside of living in this tiny big city is that due to the lack of space everyone is forced to live on top of each other.

 

Like many others in San Francisco, I live in a small, shared apartment.  Often I am torn between creating a sense of space in my room by limiting my stuff or trying to hold onto items I never use but might need later in my life. 

For example, all those shoe boxes that came with my new Vans (I buy one pair every month). When my roommate asked me why I am holding onto so many shoeboxes in my tiny, little room, I came up with numerous reasons to carefully convince her, and myself, that I really do need them. For instance, I might use them to send a package of American goodies to my mom. Or they will come in handy when I decide to start that Do It Yourself (DIY) project. Someday.

 

To support this point, I googled "Things to make using a shoebox". I was astounded by what you can create with a simple shoe box. So much so that I read them out loud to my roommate, noting rhetorically, "See? throwing them away would just be plain silly, right?"

She laughed out loud because she knows perfectly well that I am not capable of pursuing any DIY project.  And, to my sadness, I know she is right; I don't really do crafty. Yet I am still sure that it is totally worth stocking my room with shoeboxes in case I ever decide to do so. You never know. I'd like to have the option.

Now let's talk about that suitcase under my desk. I cannot put my legs on the ground while sitting behind my desk because the suitcase is in the way. However, it is the only space in my room where I can store it.

I have never used the suitcase nor I am probably ever going to use it.  It is too big to take on a weekend trip and too small to take on a longer trip. But sell it? No! It is a good suitcase. The color is cute. "I would probably regret selling it", I whisper to myself.  Even after I badly stub my little toe against it.

The worst item I am currently holding on to is an inconveniently located cat scratch pole.  It stands awkwardly and lonely-like in the hallway. I do not have a cat. Many people bump into it entering the apartment and ask me why it is there (since, I do not have a cat). I say, "I am hanging onto it. In case I ever decide to get a cat." Which I am sure I will at some point in my life.


It's just that right now I am not aloud to have pets in my apartment. But maybe, just maybe, if I ever move... The thought of a happy little kitten coming home into a house that is prepared with a comfy cat scratch pole ensures me that it is worth holding onto. Even if that means that any guest who enters the apartment will bump into it every time. And that they think of me as the crazy cat lady. Without the cat.

I am not going to hide; I see a pattern here. My room is stuffed with items that I probably do not need. And the first step in solving a problem is recognizing that there is one.  One of those future next steps is sorting and separating and parting with some of my precious either by a) selling it online or b) shipping it off to the dump.

 

I know that my hoarding habits are not as bad as those people you see on hoarding shows on TV. But living in San Francisco, this crowded small city that I love, I have to accept that there just is not enough space for items that I do not use. That is why it is time for me to let go.

One... item... at... a... time.

#fullhouse #safelocalselling #pixiboard