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OPINIONS & EDITORIALS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 23, 2010
THE TIMES-DELPHIC Vaudeville Mews has two grand perfomances this weekend.
OPINIONS&EDITORIALS
9/25 Tony Furtadobr 9/26 Tim Kasher
Top 10 things to do on a rainy day Rain, rain—what do I do now?
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seats of GK. They are the best place to curl up with a good book, especially when it’s raining.
Do homework – I know everyone’s first thought when it’s raining is, “Yes! Time to do homework!” Let’s be serious, we all want to relax, take a nap and watch a movie instead, but it had to be included for those non-procrastinators.
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Since Drake seems to be the center of all rain and thunderstorms lately, at least we now have some things to do besides sitting on Facebook for hours at a time. Hope you all brought your oars!
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Dance – You’ve seen it in the movies, but have you ever done it yourself ? If you’re walking through campus and you see a crazy girl running around, spinning in circles – yep, that’s me.
Read – If only all residents could enjoy the window
Play games – I use rainy days to my advantage. All my friends lock their doors because they know I’ll beg them to come play board games. How nice.
Nap – I feel like this is necessary every day, but a
storm is the perfect excuse to say you need a nap. It is so peaceful and relaxing to fall asleep listening to the rain. In case of a drought, www.rainymood.com is a good simulation.
Order food – Canoeing your way around campus is not a great idea, but ordering in is! There are plenty of great dining options that would love to deliver food to college students.
Watch movies or TV – Along with taking a nap, this is also justified on a rainy day. Going through a whole season of your favorite TV show sounds appealing, and it helps you put off homework that you are ever so thrilled about starting.
Call your mom – You know she’s been waiting to hear from you for a few weeks. Let her know everything is fine and you’re spending plenty of time at the library.
Build a fort – Whether you lofted your bed or not, how awesome would it be to have your whole room as a fort? All your friends will be jealous because it looks so cool. Not that I would know. I’ve never done it before…
REBECCA MATALONI | COLUMIST Mataloni is a sophomore news/internet and music major. Mataloni can be contacted at rebecca.mataloni@drake.edu.
Bake – There comes a point in time when Hubbell
cookies just aren’t cutting it. Plus, it makes you feel like you’re home when you smell something baking in the oven.
College takes toll on student stress levels There are many ways to de-stress that prove crucial to college students
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lasses, work, sororities and fraternities, homework, friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, projects, exams, clubs, community service, internships, scholarships, financial aid, student loans, professors—just thinking about these raise my blood pressure and make me sweat profusely. Ok, maybe not profusely, but I know I’m not the only one who can be a little overwhelmed by everything going on in college. It’s surprising we don’t have panic attacks every five minutes. With all the stress we face every day, how do we keep from having a mental breakdown? Finding time to de-stress during your busy schedule will keep those anxiety attacks at bay. But how do you de-stress? Relaxation is the antibiotic for anxiety. Sometimes during a busy day, you just need to sit or lie down and simply gather your thoughts. Stare at the ceiling for a while or daydream. Try to empty your mind off whatever is stressing you out. If you’re having trouble clearing your mind, try to recite a favorite poem or song in your head. I mentally recite the First Amendment verbatim repeatedly.
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I get the feeling sleep is a competition of whom can get the least amount and still be able to open their eyes.
photo by CONNOR MCCOURTNEY | Photos Editor
LAURA WITTREN | COLUMIST Wittren is a sophomore magazines/open journalism major and can be contacted at laura.wittren@drake.edu.
THE TIMES-DELPHIC THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER FOR DRAKE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
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Play soothing music such classical or jazz (wherever your preferences lay). Yoga, Pilates and meditation are great ways to harness your chi and get a better grip on everything. Naps are another effective form of relaxation, especially when writing a paper. Since the brain is most active while you sleep, you might
wake up with more perspectives on your problems. Getting eight hours of sleep every night helps, too. Sometimes I get the feeling sleep is a competition of whom can get the least amount and still be able to open their eyes. Excuse me for wanting a full REM cycle. Avoid beverages with large amounts of caffeine. Sure, a Monster will keep you awake long enough to type a paper, but unbelievably, caffeine is a drug that can actually boost your stress levels. So if you’re on the verge of mental breakdown, don’t head to the café for a double shot of espresso. Go for the non-caffeinated beverages instead. Read a book, other than your textbooks. Sometimes I get in this mindset that I can’t read a good novel because that’s study time I’m wasting. However, reading something for fun is way less stressful than reading a boring textbook. I’m not saying to ignore reading assignments, but try to make room for an enjoyable book as well. Hang out with some friends! Watch a funny movie and just laugh and have fun. Chances are they need to de-stress too. It’s like that old saying: Laughter is the best medicine. Play with a puppy! Ok, this might seem random, but who doesn’t love an adorable puppy? During finals, many colleges have animal shelters bring cute puppies and kittens to campus for students to pet and play with in order to destress. If animals can be used to visit hospital patients, why can’t they help anxious college students? Go for a walk or run. We all know exercise releases endorphins, and endorphins make us happy. It’s also a chance to shut out everything around you for a while. Put your iPod on high volume, and walk around campus a few times. Of course, there are many more ways to destress, and not all techniques work for everyone. Find your own ways to de-stress, and you can avoid any embarrassing panic attacks during the middle of class.
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