Keeping a Positive Outlook Through a Busy Week

It is around halfway through the semester, and I feel this is when everything starts to pick up. Schoolwork is at its peak along with stress levels. Sometimes it feels like everything is piling up at once, and when that happens we lose sight of the things that make us happy. Those things are essential to a contented well-being, and an overall positive outlook on life. In the spirit of this busy time of year, I wanted to share the things that help me keep an optimistic mindset even during the busiest of weeks. 

The first thing that I can’t emphasize enough is making time for yourself everyday, no matter what it is or how long. Something as simple as a quick 30 minute walk or sitting down to eat breakfast. This time is when you can “disassociate” from the world for a bit, where you don’t have to think about any of the stressors in your life. Yes, I understand that this can be difficult to do, but it is what keeps us from spiraling into a constant mentality of stress and negativity. My favorite way to do this is by leaving my phone outside of a workout class I am taking that day. This really forces me to focus on the present and leave any factors causing me stress outside of the room. I treat this hour or however long to disassociate and decompress, with no distractions in the way. 

The next way to get through the stressful weeks is making sure that you always have something to look forward to. No matter how big or small, it is truly so impactful and increases motivation levels by so much. I try to set some type of “reward” or weekend plan to look forward to at least once a week. This has really helped me stay motivated, because I know that if I work hard and finish all I need to get done, I will be able to enjoy whatever I have planned for myself. It could even be as small as treating myself to Starbucks on a Friday after I’ve finished a week of classes, but it really makes all the difference. 

Another thing that makes the biggest difference is prioritizing winding down at night, so you can wake up refreshed the next day. Nothing is worse than tackling a busy day while being tired and sleep deprived at the same time. Doing so also drastically reduces productivity levels. I have found it so beneficial to focus on creating a good nighttime routine that includes relaxation. Going to sleep stressed means waking up stressed, so why not just eliminate both?

Since really trying to implement these minor lifestyle changes, I have found that my stress levels have gone down significantly. I definitely used to let school stress get the best of me in previous semesters, and now I see that it is all just a mindset.