With less than a month of class left in my college years, I have begun my struggle against the inertia of senioritis. Hence, I have had lots of time to not only contemplate, but also practice relaxation–something I cannot say has been a constant in my life the past four years.
Recently, I made the realization that scrolling on my phone on Instagram Reels, Reddit, and even Facebook Marketplace under the guise of “relaxation” was not healthy for me. Instead of truly giving myself a break, I was just numbing my mind with a constant influx of content. Sure it’s fun sometimes, but I never feel great about myself after.
At the beginning of the year, I signed up for a half-marathon. As such, I formed a routine around running and it has become an activity of solace for me. It just makes me feel more grounded (like literally when my feet pound the pavement). I’m also able to listen to music on my runs and take pictures of scenic views on the Charles. When I graduate, I’ll miss the runner-friendly environment and infrastructure in Boston.
Besides running, I started cooking more for myself. In the past, I used to see homemade meals as sustenance. Consequently, when I’d cook, I wanted to maximize efficiency and often got stressed for time. Now that I’ve dialed down my workload, I’m able to focus more on the minute processes of cooking. I enjoy chopping vegetables. Whole Foods has become a second home to me. And overall, I enjoy the experience of eating at home a lot more.
Relaxing comes in many forms and I still have much to discover, but at this stage of my life, I feel pretty relaxed.
