Five Methods for Getting Into a Good Headspace
By: Margaret Lindenburg
With a full course load and extracurricular activities, I often get overwhelmed with processing everything on my weekly to-do list. Though there is always a lot to be done, there is nothing more important than making sure you feel prepared for the tasks that lie ahead. Here are a few of the ways that I build a positive outlook and healthy headspace as I try to keep the Sunday Scaries at bay.
1. Make a playlist, or two.
When I feel uneasy, anxious, or just in a funk, I can ALWAYS rely on certain kinds of music to help me push through. Music has the unique ability to help us time travel; when I listen to certain songs, I am transported to very specific times in my life. I have three playlists in my arsenal that I curated based on very peaceful periods of my life. This is my favorite way to change my headspace, because it works on-the-go! I listen to them whenever I am anxious, whether it be on my walk to class or before bed. They’re my easiest route to calm.
2. Make a list of what went wrong today.
This is a habit I learned from my superwoman mom. Last spring, I called her feeling so overwhelmed with day-to-day responsibilities on campus, that I felt stuck. She told me to write down everything that had went wrong that day. Seeing these stressors written down and separated helped me see that they were all relatively manageable. Making a list of all the tiny things that had amassed to a tidal wave of stress also helped me feel validated -- I wasn’t crazy, I was just human.
3. Make a list of what went RIGHT this week.
Next step, make a list of everything that went right -- not just today, but in the last week. I like to start with “I love…” statements about people close to me. I love my mom, because she taught me to make these lists. I love my sister because she came to Nova for dinner this week. I love my friend Jane because we spent our lunch break together. Next, you can move on to things or experiences. I loved that car ride with the windows down. I loved that rainy day where I watched a movie. It so VERY therapeutic to see everyone, and everything, that made you feel good collected in one place. These affirmations do a great job of outweighing your stressors. I always realize that the world is not out to get me, but rather it is embracing me everyday!
4. Find your peaceful spots on, or off, campus.
Quiet, peaceful spots are the best. They’re a great place to listen to those playlists or write these lists. They’re also a great places for doing nothing. Whatever your peaceful spot it is, use it as often as you can! I love sitting at my desk with both feet on the ground (#grounded), or going to Valley Forge.
5. Walk it out.
This is usually the time in a wellness list where the author tells you to go on a run. But I suggest a walk! This is mostly because I fall in and out of running every few months. Though definitely beneficial, full on sweat and exercise can be sometimes be daunting. If you’re not looking to get even more overwhelmed by exercise, a walk is just as great. Listen to your playlist, walk to a peaceful spot, and practice deep breathing. Call your mom! Find a new podcast. Use the time to immerse yourself in a different environment -- and try your best to leave your bad headspace at your dorm or apartment.
Do you have any favorite headspace reset methods? Share them in the comments :)
