Take the time to stop and smell the roses

Don't you just adore this time of year?  Our New Year's Resolutions are in full swing, Valentine's Day is right around the corner, and believe it or not, Spring Break is comin' round the mountain (or Rock, to be locally correct).  On top of that, another semester has begun.

I know it's hard to contain your excitement as you stroll through this lovely Slippery Rock weather, umbrella companies must be making a fortune.  But forget the rain, because your destiny lies with your arrival to class.  Professors have begun to expel their gratuitous amounts of knowledge into our minds.  Class work and assignments are multiplying like rabbits.  And, quite frankly, I already feel like shoving my head into a wall.    

So what is the best way to combat all of this stress?  

Well, if you can look past the unwavering ARC patrons that fill the gym like Times Square on New Year's Eve, that would be a great place to start.  Exercise is one of the most beneficial ways to reduce stress.  I, myself, have made a deal that if I don't run at least three days a week, I am freezing my FaceSpace account.  Alarming, I know, but it's a risk I am willing to take.  I also practice yoga every night before bed.  It helps me unwind and clear my head.  

What I'm trying to say is that establishing a schedule of "YOU time" will help to conquer this treacherous spring semester.  Set aside at least thirty minutes a day devoted to an activity that relaxes you.  

And remember, although your planner is inked with more to-do's and tasks than humanly possible, there is ALWAYS time to stop and smell the roses.