Aries (March 21st – April 19th) – Grab coffee with friends
Isolating to get all your work done may be beneficial for grades, but not healthy. Take some time this week to grab a leisurely cup of coffee with your friends and catch up. Do not chug this cold brew before spending 10 hours in Ames, hang out and talk with your friends who you have probably neglected the past couple of weeks.
Taurus (April 20th – May 20th) – Have a self-care day
This means a lot of different things to different people. Whether this is cleaning your dorm room, going out with friends or sleeping all day, take a day to do whatever you need. This will be incredibly healing and you may try to implement a self-care day into your weekly schedule.
Gemini (May 21st – June 20th) – Meditate
With midterms and the stress of the rest of the semester, take some time to clear your head. Lock your phone, put on headphones and meditate. Do not think about anything for 5-20 minutes. You can respond to all the emails piling up after but first take the time to just have no thoughts.
Cancer (June 21st – July 22nd) – Get some sleep
When you get busy, sleep is always the first thing you neglect. Since the stress of midterms is behind you for the most part, clear an afternoon or Saturday morning to nap or sleep in. Scientifically, this is a necessity. Five hours of sleep will not cut it in the long term. Help yourself and get some shut eye.
Leo (July 23rd – August 22nd) – Complete a random act of kindness
Focusing on midterms and school can be an incredibly self involved activity. Take some time this upcoming week to complete a random act of kindness. It does not matter whether you buy the coffee of the car behind you in the drive through or compliment someone on the quad. Helping other people feel good will help you feel better too.
Virgo (August 23rd – September 22nd) – Take yourself out to breakfast
Start your day off on a positive note with a breakfast date. Heading off campus and checking out one of the many popular breakfast spots in Bloomington-Normal is sure to improve your mood. No car? No problem. SAGA brunch has your name written all over it. There are very few things that pancakes and hash browns cannot solve.
Libra (September 23rd – October 22nd) – Go on a long walk
Before there is snow on the ground, hit Constitution Trail and clear your head with a long walk. This time of year allows for perfect walking weather in the afternoon. You can be outside for hours with a light jacket or sweatshirt without shivering or sweating. Taking in all the fresh air and Vitamin D will help clear your head after a tough seven weeks.
Scorpio (October 23rd – November 21st) – Buy something on your wishlist
You worked hard so now go out and treat yourself. Everyone has an imaginary wish list of things they want in their head, cross something off. If your wish list includes a Chipotle bowl and a movie on Amazon Prime, this would be the perfect time to set aside some time to do that.
Sagittarius (November 22nd – December 21st) – Start something new
With classes being more normal now, you may have some extra time to start a new hobby. Try reading, knitting or even starting a new television show. Adding something new to your daily routine will help get you ready for the second half of the semester. Having a show or an activity to look forward to can make all the difference in your mental health.
Capricorn (December 22nd – January 19th) – Journal about how you are feeling
After writing papers and forum discussions, more writing may seem like the last thing you want to do, but do not disregard journaling so fast. The weight lifted off your shoulders after getting everything out on paper about how you feel will be indescribable. Talk to any therapist; this is almost always their first recommendation to help with mental well-being.
Aquarius (January 20th – February 18th) – Go to a yoga class
A more active wellness journey should heal you after only the first half of a stressful fall semester. You can quietly just focus on your breathing and stretching for an hour or challenge yourself to a more strenuous yoga class. There are so many yoga studios in the Bloomington-Normal area, you are sure to find the right fit for you.
Pisces (February 19th – March 20th) – Take a day off of social media/your devices
Social media and your phone are all fun and games until they are not. Sometimes your Instagram feed can be a suffocating space, take a day to yourself without your phone. Go out with friends, binge watch an entire season of your favorite reality tv show. No matter what you do, ditch the tiny screen.