Not only have Canisius students started a new school year, but it is everyone’s first time fully back in classes since the beginning of 2020. More time is spent in the classroom with peers and professors, homework loads have seemed to increase, some students are back working jobs outside of school and some are looking for internships or career opportunities now that the world is opening back up. All of this is coming with renewed stress as students try to adapt to a lifestyle they have learned to live without for a year and half. Some of The Griffin staff members offer ways that they cope with the stress a new school year can have on them.
Patrick: I don’t. Mostly by setting aside time for non-school activities. This allows me to be more productive when I am doing school work — deadlines, even artificial ones, tend to do that — while giving my brain some time off, which in the end helps my grades just as much as that extra bit of studying would. Baseball is nice because it provides a daily respite and something to look forward to. I know the Yankees will be playing at exactly 7:07, and I try not to miss first pitch. On Sundays, I do laundry before the Bills game, watch the game, do homework after the game and then watch Sunday Night Football at 8:20.
Routines make the work less overwhelming because I spend the same amount of time on schoolwork no matter how much I have (I’m a big believer in Parkinson’s Law: “Work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion”). Plus, once they become habit, it feels weird to do homework during the allotted “me” time; knowing I couldn’t focus on school anyway, I can enjoy the fun activity without worrying that it’s costing me study time.
Aidan: For me, I find it pretty beneficial to get off campus for a little while, even if it’s just for a couple of hours. A lot of how I get away from everything is through sports, so I really enjoy going to a bar or restaurant to watch a game, especially to go to one for football on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. That, and watching sports in general, definitely gives me something to look forward to at night and on the weekends when I need a break from school. Also, I enjoy going to play golf on weekends. It’s a nice way to relax with friends and it relieves stress hitting a ball really far. It’s a nice way to get outside for a bit too. Both of these things really relieve stress for me.
Natalie: My favorite thing to do to destress is to take some time for myself. I like to go into my room, shut the door and just have some “me time.” All of this work, plus reintroducing social activities, is honestly pretty overwhelming, so sometimes it’s okay to just scroll through TikTok or watch a really long YouTube video. Napping usually goes hand-in-hand with alone time and I am not mad at that. A nice, long nap after a stressful day energizes me and gets me ready to spend the night doing homework or going to a social activity. In the end, we all need quiet alone time, so my advice is to allow yourself to be alone and chill out.
Emma: This school year has definitely tested what I am capable of balancing and achieving, and I have found that it is essential for me to take some time to relax if I want to remain in the best mindset for working hard. I wish more people knew that Canisius’s counseling center has free counseling sessions available for students: therapy is important! If I want to relax on my own, I like listening to music, meditating on Insight Timer (it’s free!) or working in my journal. But I also like to grab dinner with my friends or have a movie night with my mom if I’ve been feeling burned out. When I have a lot of deadlines, making lists of priorities helps me to feel more organized. My main advice — never underestimate the power of a good night’s sleep!
Julia: I’ve definitely been a lot busier this year than my sophomore year, and I know it has been stressful for everyone. One thing I like to do when I feel overwhelmed or overworked is to take some time to myself. Spending time by myself is something that is crucial for the good of my mental health, so I make sure to carve out time to spend alone. I know being alone isn’t for everyone, but it’s a great way to reflect and do something you love. For me that is reading, watching a show I like or making progress on my paint by numbers (I will finish it one day). Or if I’m really tired and stressed, naps are my go to. There’s just something about avoiding your problems with unconsciousness…