By Jacqueline Ayala, Social Media Editor
As autumn (slowly…) approaches, it becomes prime time to stay in and take in the world around you. Except we don’t exactly have the time to take a breath. I’m writing partly as a hypocrite and partly hoping to incorporate a few things to make the days stop bleeding together. The majority of us have the same routines of school, work, home, repeat. Where do we get the time to pause? How do we figure out the perfect moments to have the perfect balance for our mental health?
Well, luckily for you, between cups of coffee, walks outside, and movie nights in, autumn is always the perfect time to focus on yourself. And to do that, I’m going to need to call out almost every student ever. Life here feels as if it needs to move fast so we can get by. Let’s try to make a change in our daily routines so we can do what we do best: be human.
Up and at’em
The day wastes away faster if we wake up later; we all hate to admit it. Now, waking up before the sun rises isn’t totally the way to make the day feel longer, but starting your day before 10 a.m. certainly can bring you some morning peace. The routine gets easier over time, and you will find yourself no longer needing to rush to have breakfast, get ready, and make your bed. If you don’t think you can be a morning person, it could be because you haven’t figured out the correct routine that works for you! So, start slow by just figuring out your morning routine.
Since we are on the morning note: eat your breakfast! Whether it’s a granola bar, a bowl of fruit, or something more filling, it’s vital for food to be in your stomach; your day immediately starts wrong if you don’t have something to eat before officially starting your day.
Put the Damn Phone Down
Doomscrolling is making the time go by faster. Your brain focuses on that ten-second video just to scroll to the next and the next… then you look at the time and two hours have passed. What can you do to separate yourself from these addictive apps? The best way will always be to delete social media. Instagram, TikTok, anything that you click on to see a quick video, which suddenly turns into multiple videos. Admittedly, I don’t have these apps deleted. If I did, Imaginary Gardens would not need me as a Social Media Editor. So what else can you do?
If all else fails, put yourself on a time limit. While iPhones have an automatic app timer you can set up, there are apps you can download to help you. I personally recommend ScreenZen, which is free (excluding in-app purchases you don’t need to buy) and allows you to properly think about why you are opening your doomscrolling apps.
Anything but your Phone
How many times are we told journaling helps? Way too damn much for it not to be true. I get it, though; I’m a writer, so it’s a bit easier for me to get in the mood to journal. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be all “dear diary” every single day as much as people say it helps. It could be random thoughts or things you see, poems, whatever works for you! The act of writing can sometimes take up the space you can have in your day, proving you don’t need overstimulating blue light to have a time-passing activity!
Don’t want to journal? Go outside! Right now, it’s unbearably hot, and hopefully that changes soon. When autumn finally appears, it’s the perfect in-between of hot and cold weather as we transition into colder seasons. Take a stroll on campus or in your neighborhood with a cozy sweater and comfy shoes, and take in that chilly air to give your lungs a cleanse.
Or read a book! (Or the newest Imaginary Gardens edition)! The most valuable hobby you can do, which will perfectly give you that cozy 2000s fall we are secretly yearning to relive. Getting books from local libraries is an even bigger plus, as you won’t need to spend a dime on books, which are getting scarily expensive…
Really, our parents were right all along. It’s always the phone that becomes the root of our problems.
Coffee in an IV
What did Lorelai Gilmore always say in Gilmore Girls? Oh, “coffee, coffee, coffee!” It’s the sweet treat season and my personal favorite. Pumpkin spice, apple crisp, even just a plain vanilla latte! As much as I am an iced latte person, a warm drink in my hand never fails to put me in a state of calm. You get a greater ability to taste and appreciate your drink, and you warm up while you’re out in cold weather (if it ever gets cold).
Now, don’t go buying yourself a coffee every single day before school or work. Making one at home is more affordable; you can adjust it to your own tastes, and buying the supplies for the same price as one or two lattes will make you even more coffees in the long run! If you think you can’t have cold foam or pumpkin spice at home, boy are you wrong! With the rise in popularity, it has become a staple for these to appear in the coffee syrup and creamer section in grocery stores.
To Live is Not to be Rushed
Autumn screams comfort, and that can’t be done if we aren’t slowing down. It’s not easy, I can admit. Right now, more than ever, we are experiencing a need to just have the days pass without any moment to breathe. But that breath can be just what you need to feel less stressed.
When all else fails, change into your pajamas, put on fuzzy socks, and light a candle for a cozy movie night. To live is not to be rushed. To live is to be in the moment, something even I need to work on.
