Arts & Life

Finals week: Offbeat methods to rejuvenate the mind and spirit

It’s week 15 of the semester—finals week is here, and procrastination has been the malicious culprit responsible for triggering last minute essays and projects.

Breathing exercises are no longer a viable solution to stress, and diets of high protein nuts, fruits and omega-3 fatty acids have fallen short of stress relief promises. However, it is crucial during this period to take a deep breath and designate some personal time to relaxing and reducing stress in order to maximize studying productivity.

  1. Grab a drink: The ancient Greeks have long associated alcoholic beverages with leisure and relaxation. The Greek lyric poet Alcaeus once wrote, “We must not let our spirits give way to grief … Best of all defenses is to mix plenty of wine, and drink it.” A study by Michael A. Sayette, a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh shows that alcohol consumption can result in a stress-response-dampening effect. In other words, moderate doses of alcohol can reduce the body’s physiological stress response in certain situations and help with winding down.
  2. Stop and smell the roses: Whether it is walking the dog through the park or strolling the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, nature-oriented activities have been proven to decrease burn-out scores and long-term sick leaves while also increasing work ability, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. So in between those endless study sessions, step outside for bit and let the rejuvenation sink in in order to maximize cramming later on.
  3. Get in touch: The language of compassion and love can do wonders to assuage headaches and heal the soul. Nonhuman primates spend about 10-20 percent of their waking day grooming each other. Research by Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley shows that touch activates the brain’s orbitofrontal cortex, which signals safety and trust. In other words, hugging a friend, holding hands, stroking a pet or getting a massage are different activities than can be done to activate the body’s vagus nerve and calm cardiovascular stress.
  4. Say a little prayer: Whether taken figuratively or explicitly, studies by the National Center for Biotechnology Information have shown that the miraculous effects of “divine intervention” can be tied to a placebo response, reducing numerous disorders tied to stress including anxiety and depression. Prayer, also known as spiritual meditation, has been found to be superior to secular meditation in terms of reducing heart-rate and improving positive mood and self-esteem.
  5. Tickle your fancy: It’s no joke that laughter is the best medicine. As comedian Milton Berle once said, “Laughter is an instant vacation.” A study by the American Journal of Medical Sciences found that mirthful laughter could produce biochemical changes that reverse the neuroendocrine and classical stress hormone response. Laughter is a contagious bug that increases health, happiness and diminishes pain and stress from every life. Find whatever it is that cracks you up, surround yourself with humorists and let the good times roll until the tears come streaming down.

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