How To: Survive the Week from Hell
Hello readers! So late last night as I attempted to juggle a full load of homework, responsibilities for my internship, a new article for my fashion column and duties for my sorority, I had a stunning realization — this is my first “Week from Hell” of the semester. To clarify, by “Week from Hell” I mean a week where every part of your life seems to converge and there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to make it all happen. Fortunately, these weeks only come about every 1 1/2 to 2 months for me, and I have developed some tried and true methods for handling them as gracefully as possible.
Photo Credit: Sephora
Buy a good concealer + a multivitamin
These two items will do wonders during your week from hell. I have been using Makeup Forever’s Full Cover Concealer every morning for the past three months and it makes 4 hours of sleep look like 8 hours. Not that buying a new concealer should encourage sleep deprivation, but desperate times call for desperate measures — or in our case, a super blendable, buildable concealer that will keep you looking fresh until you’ve managed to catch up on your sleep.
Taking a multivitamin every morning is a habit I just started this semester but it’s a routine I will continue to stick with as the year progresses. I don’t know if this is the works of a placebo effect talking, but I simply feel healthier when I have it in my system. Whether or not it really boosts my immune system can be up for debate, but I haven’t gotten sick yet (knock on wood) so I think I’m reaping some of the health benefits.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Caffeinate, but don’t over caffeinate
I have always prided myself on not being a coffee drinker. Sure, I would order the occasional tall skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks, but on the whole I try not to drink it on a daily basis. However, during a stressful week when tension is high and sleep is scarce, coffee can be a life saver. For me the key is moderation. Usually one small cup in the morning and another in the late afternoon will cover me — any more than that and I turn into a cracked out crazy person with little ability to focus on any one thing for more than 3 minutes at a time. I learned this particular lesson the hard way.
Photo Credit: The Harry Potter Lexicon
Listen to Harry Potter books-on-tape
Some people like to work to classical music, others prefer the sound of a crackling fire or thunderstorms — I happen to find comfort and relaxation in Jim Dale’s narration of the Harry Potter series. If you haven’t listened to Harry Potter books-on-tape (or should I say, books-on-mp3?), I one hundred percent recommend giving it a try. It is my go to soundtrack for late night study sessions, rainy days and nights when I have trouble falling asleep. If you have trouble concentrating with all of the voices, might I also suggest any of the Harry Potter movie scores — that’s what gets me through my final exams.
Photo Credit: Sleep & Wellness Medical Associates
Sleep
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Sleep. Even it’s only for a few hours. You are not invincible and all-nighters are best left to nocturnal creatures. Go to bed, wake up, and start fresh.
Take mental health breaks
This blog is my mental health break. Going to the gym is my mental health break. Cooking is my mental health break. Taking like 30 minutes to an hour to just do my own thing between work and class is a saving grace. Even if it’s a trip to get ice cream or taking a really long shower, setting aside those little moments are a big part of staying sane.
What do you guys do to stay calm during your most stressful weeks? Hope some of these tips were helpful, I’m off to tackle a logo design!
♥
