In the wake of the worst year anyone can remember, I think I can speak for everyone when I say summer cannot come soon enough. While COVID-19 cases on campus are thankfully on the downswing again, this has still been an extremely stressful school year and it is important to find time in the day to give yourself space from classes, work, friends or just life in general.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, it can be extremely beneficial to remove yourself from what you are doing and do some deep breathing exercises. I know it sounds cliche, but while inhaling a deep breath quickens your heartbeat, exhaling slows it down. Repeating this practice leads to your brain releasing endorphins, calming you down in the process. The next time an assignment is seriously stressing you out, put your hand on your chest, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth to calm yourself down.

Another great way to give yourself space is going on a short walk. It gives you the opportunity to get some fresh air, take your mind off what you’ve been doing and get some exercise in the process. The weather these last few weeks has been very warm, so you should take advantage of this and take a walk through campus, maybe to the shell path or by the bridge. If you are working remotely this semester, try taking a walk around the block instead.

This has been a tough time for everyone, and we’re all just trying to do the best we can to make it through the day. This is why it is so important to recognize when you need to remove yourself from your situation, even for only five minutes, and remind yourself not to spiral down into “oh my god this is terrible and it will never end.” It is not true. This too shall pass.