Student Blog: Midterms and Music

So, how is midterm season treating everyone so far? I'm going to guess you thought of some words along the lines of "stressful" and "exhausting" and maybe even "are we done yet?" Well, my friend, you are certainly not alone. This time of the semester can be difficult for everyone, exam after exam, it does sort of feel never-ending. But have you thought about some of the ways to try and mitigate that stress? I know it can be challenging to think about setting aside some time for self care, I've also found myself struggling to find time for that. In fact, I didn't really consider setting time aside until I had a conversation with a friend who told me what they like to do for some stress relief. For some it might be taking a walk, for others it might be going to the gym or meditating, everybody unwinds in a different way. But this conversation really got me thinking "what am I doing to relieve stress?"

As I'm assuming there are some fellow theatre kids reading this; I've found that my love for music and theatre is what can take me out of that stressful state, even if it's just for a few minutes. Just writing about my love of music can put me at ease for a moment.

So, what are some of the ways you can utilize this form of stress relief? Maybe while walking to a class you put on one of your favorite songs or show tunes to get you pumped for the day. You could always put on some music while taking a shower. Or maybe at the end of the day you decompress by sitting on the couch with your music playing. The options really are endless if you take some time to think about it.

There doesn't have to be a perfect time or place for you to put in your earbuds, it's just a matter of when the time feels right or necessary for you. Always remember to take a moment for yourself. You know when you need a break - that feeling like you've hit a wall or that you're completely burnt out. Just remember you are not the only one feeling this way, but it's up to you to take that second, minute, or hour to de-stress.

In my experience, dedicating even the slightest bit of time can be super beneficial - it's like a recharge for your brain. Specifically when it comes to listening to some show tunes, it transports you out of the negative headspace you may have been in a few moments before and almost puts you in that number on your soundtrack, how great is that?

Music can be your escape when you don't have another outlet to get away. And maybe if you're lucky, with theatres opening back up, you could take the night off and go see a show. Local or professional theatre can both be fun ways to take your mind off of all the stress you've endured during your season of midterms.

Take time to prioritize yourself and good luck!