By Ellen Garnett
Staff writer
Insert here all of the clichés about how time goes by way too fast and all of a sudden, you are a senior at Simmons College. Here is a compilation of tips on how to be a Simmons senior, and for the most part, these tips can also be applied to students of other grades.
1. Take a shower at least every other day. You do not want to smell yourself and neither do others. You will also most likely feel better if you shower when you are stressed. Dry shampoo is a helpful invention if you are worried about greasy hair.
2. Sleep as much as you can. Get a sleep routine, which is a part of sleep hygiene. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), “Sleep hygiene is a variety of different practices that are necessary to have normal, quality nighttime sleep and full daytime alertness.” The NSF suggests to sticking to a low-key bedtime routine, avoiding napping, and eating big meals before bed.
3. Caffeine is your friend, but do not abuse her. With full disclosure, this is coming from a caffeine lover. It can give you a boost to get you through the day, which is sometimes all you need, but having too much of anything is not good for anyone. Everything should be taken in moderation.
4. Make sure to eat regularly. Your body needs nourishment if it is going to perform at its best. Protein bars are a convenient way to get a meal in, but socializing with others over a full meal can be a wholesome experience. For example, in Spain, siesta lasts from 3 to 5 p.m. This allows people to get together with their families to eat lunch and take time for themselves. Not everyone has two hours to do that, but even just a half an hour to eat lunch with friends can be a calming routine.
5. Take time for yourself, whether that means curling up on a couch or watching an episode of Netflix. It can be as short as a 20—minute chunk of time. Me time should be exercised at least once a week. Do not feel guilty about taking this time; it is for your sanity.
6. Don’t panic. Nobody knows exactly what they are going to be doing after graduation, and it is perfectly okay to dabble. You do not have to have your whole life mapped out, that is part of the fun.
7. Embrace yourself. Self-affirming statements can ground you. We all want to be flawless like Beyoncé, but we need be aware of our strengths and weaknesses so that we can accept and learn from them. Senior year is a culmination of all that we have learned, but it is important to remember that we are all works in progress. Our stories do not end when we graduate; they begin anew.
Take a deep breath, you will graudate come the end of May. Take time to get to know yourself outside of the Simmons bubble. My favorite coach once told me “this is the time of our lives”. Embrace it.
