As students, there will be many times when there is just so much for us to do, that it can get pretty overwhelming. Especially if we don’t have things in place to help us. There are a few things that I like to do when everything gets a bit too noisy. Sure, taking a break is a good first step, but the kind of break you take actually matters a lot. Everyone is different, and for me, being in nature is one of the most grounding experiences. In fact, as I am writing this, I am sat under a tree on campus. Another thing that helps me is rewatching certain television shows (sitcoms can be a lifesaver during hard times).
There’s so much wonderful nature in Norwich. We are very lucky, too, to have the lake on campus (which is a particular favourite spot of mine). I have found over the course of my degree that there’s nothing that quite hits the spot more than going to the lake, or finding a nice area on campus, and just sitting there and taking a breath. I tend to take a book, a sudoku puzzle or a notebook to jot down some thoughts. Sometimes, I take nothing at all.
You get to see and hear things you may otherwise ignore. Like the wind rustling the leaves in a nearby tree, strangers pausing to take pictures and pulling funny poses, squirrels collecting food, or the slow movement of the water. These things are all incredibly grounding once you actually take a moment to notice them. And that is exactly what I love about it.
There are so many options for activities you could use as rituals of comfort, and discovering what works for you is a pretty beautiful journey in itself. You could try and focus on the sensory elements of this too – what can you hear? What do you see? Do you feel anything? Once you start practicing this habit regularly, everything else gets a little easier to deal with. A few other options include exercise, reading, writing, watching a favourite show or film, or
having a go-to comfort drink. It can even be something as simple as taking a little nap!
The vital part that underlines all of these is slowing down and doing something for you instead of for everyone else.
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