Calm Through the Storm
Written by: Adelyn Olivo
Illustrated by: Adrienne Manio
Layout by: Kassandra Gan
I
magine you’re on a boat, drifting upon a sea of stars. The galaxy above you is clear as day, not a single asteroid blocking your view of the planets. It isn’t until you look further that you find the haptics of a storm. Steering away was your option, until the whirlpool of grayness decided to swallow you whole. Thunder clashes against the pouring rain and lightning illuminates the sky. You’re stuck with yourself, your boat, and the sails. Maybe this is all a dream, maybe it isn’t. You pinch yourself hard, the seething pain only making you realize it’s all real.
Have you ever felt like this when you walked into your new classroom, facing work that you thought you could escape from? Summer has always been the season many of us look forward to, making the transition from resting at home to sitting on a chair with homework not an easy one. As summer passed, you may have acquired some new hobbies, spent time with your family and close friends, and maybe even invested some time to rest and recover from burnout. Now that school is back, how can you find solace in the storm of academic work without giving your rest time away?
Make a schedule with allocated rest hours!
If you’re someone who likes to have a sense of routine and structure, this one’s for you! Try making a routine you can do that keeps you academically motivated to get things done, and to also be able to get ample time away from workload. Allocating time to rest is definitely a good place for doing self-care, having fun with friends, and being with your family.
Utilize hobbies or rest as your mental break!
If you’re not a fan of routines or schedules to follow monotonously, this is a go-to! Say you just finished writing your essay, and want to take a break. Take some sweet time to indulge in your hobbies—whether it’s drawing, playing music, or watching a show. Our brains need some time to rewire after being drained by the workload we have, so it’s best to have something that your brain can call relaxation or time off.
Use hobbies and rest to get you going!
Motivating ourselves can sometimes be hard, especially when morale is low over things that we can’t control. Having your hobbies or rest time as your buddy in making things brighter, you can definitely get through the school year! By hanging out with people who have the same hobbies you bond over, sleeping to get your energy back, and many more, your body will thank you for such gratuitous efforts.