Student Blog: Keep Calm and Perform On

It feels almost crazy that I am already back in school, practically halfway through the first semester of Junior Year. Time really flies by. I feel like I blinked and summer was already over! If you have read my last blog, you would know that I took a little hiatus from theatre and blogging over the summer as a way to reconnect with myself and do some "soul-searching". I am happy to share that it worked and was the best thing I could have done for myself. I was able to find a world for myself outside of theatre, and find many interests and hobbies that I never knew I had before. I was also able to appreciate theatre again and come back to school with new motivation and drive.

It was definitely challenging coming back to school to study theatre after taking a three month break, as I was still in a summer-mode mindset rather than a school-year one. It was a difficult adjustment coming back to New York from Colorado and getting used to assignments and rehearsals again. I certainly did not miss the crazy workload, but it was nice getting back into the swing of things again. This year will certainly be a crazy, yet fun one in terms of the workload. I am once again taking multiple dance classes, acting classes, Suzuki training, voice lessons, and more. I am also dancing with the Post Concert Dance Company this year on special invite from the BFA Dance Department. All in all, a super exciting year in store.

Over the summer, I learned that self-care is super important for myself. Now more than ever, I am realizing that I need to continue doing this self-care as it can be easy to get overwhelmed with my busy school schedule, homework, a part-time job, rehearsals, and a packed social calendar. I thought I would share some of the ways that I have been keeping calm and recharging myself after long days of classes and rehearsals this year:

Meditation and Yoga.

At the end of the last school year and over the summer, I got into practicing meditation and Yoga in my free time. I found it to be a helpful way to relax my mind and let go of any unnecessary stress and tension that was bothering me throughout my day. Whether it be a quick meditation session in my car before I head into class, or an hour-long Yoga session in my living room- it has helped me to get in touch with my breath and feel grounded again. I will find random videos online to follow for these activities, but my favorite app is called DownDog. DownDog offers amazing videos for both meditation and Yoga at a good price, so check it out!

Journaling.

Journaling every morning has been such a great way for me to focus myself on the day ahead and also remind myself of everything that I am working on and towards. I will sometimes write about my day or talk about life, but normally I only have time for a quick little journaling session. I will write down what I am grateful for, affirmations I am vibing with, and things I want to accomplish that day.

Watching the sunset.

This has become a new favorite thing for me to do over the past year! I absolutely love watching the sunset. Don't get me wrong, I love a good sunrise too but I am NOT a morning person at all. So, sunsets it is. There can never be a sunset that looks exactly the same as another, which makes them so exciting and thrilling to watch. It's a new surprise every time. It is also so calming watching the sun slip below the horizon and the air become cooler. Watching the sunset is a great time for me to remember that the world is bigger than I think sometimes and that my problems are not as big as they may seem.

Mental health walks.

It sounds a little silly at first, but going for a quick walk is honestly so rejuvenating and calming to me. It gives me the time and space to think and breathe without worrying about all of my other problems. It is also a great time to get some fresh air and exercise. Whether it be a quick walk around campus or a long walk around the neighborhood, I always look forward to my spontaneous mental health walks.

Cleaning my space/room.

Maybe it's just me, but when I get stressed out or overwhelmed with school and life, I find that cleaning my room is a great way to calm myself down. When I have a clean space, my brain feels less cluttered and I can actually think clearly about what needs to get done. It is also a nice relief coming home to a clean space after a chaotic day of school and rehearsals. The simple action of decluttering a table or folding my clothes while listening to my favorite song always helps to get me out of my funk.

Shaking to my favorite songs.

There are numerous studies out there detailing how dancing is super good for the brain, body, and mental health. Moving your body for just a few minutes every day can help improve one's mood and clear their mind. This year, I have been practicing an activity called "Shaking", where I play a fun, up-beat song and just dance. It doesn't have to be perfect or follow any rules. To just dance around as if no one is watching. Whether it be in the dance studio, my bedroom, or even my car- I always find the time to have a quick little dance party to help de-stress and calm my brain down.

We are halfway through the school year, and while that is scary and stressful, I am happy to be back doing what I am passionate about. I am excited to keep writing for Broadway World and taking you all on my journey through school and life!