A Balancing Act
This week will mark the end of first-quarter classes. It is hard to believe that I'm already 25% done with the MAcc program. With only three exams standing between me and a long-awaited trip home, I admit that I am exhausted. I can't wait to see my family and my pets.
Graduate school is no joke. Between classes and job-hunting, it's been the craziest seven weeks of my life. I've had to make a conscious effort to stay sane at times. So, for your enjoyment, here are my top five strategies for surviving the stress of graduate school:
- Yoga and Meditation - There are tons of opportunities around Columbus to do yoga. The RPAC offers free classes to students, and there are studios all over the city. I've even seen some in the metro parks. I personally like to pull up a 10-minute yoga video in my apartment when I get too deep into a finance case and need to take a breath. It helps me recharge, and I'm much more productive after the short break.
- Exercise - While I haven't been exercising as much as I should, it is a favorite stress reducer among my class. People play basketball, go to spin class, and are even starting intramural teams. An hour spent exercising is much better than an hour spent stressing. Let's face it: most of us would probably use that time to watch TV anyway, so it's not like we're losing valuable study time. If you don't feel like you have time to walk to the RPAC, there is a smaller gym near Fisher called NorthRec.
- Cooking - One of my favorite stress-reducing activities is cooking. Every Sunday, I cook several large dishes to eat throughout the week. Just last week I tried a new turkey and sweet potato skillet recipe. (My fire alarm and I got to have some bonding time when I didn't keep a close enough eye on the sweet potatoes.) The graduate student lounge has a fridge and several microwaves, so it's easy to save some money and pack my lunch. Knowing I have lunch and dinner made for the week and won't have to go through a drive-thru helps me feel more in control. The one week I forgot to meal prep, I got so sick of fast food-- which only added to my stress.
- Treat Yourself - Like most college students, I am on a limited budget. That being said, there's nothing wrong with treating yourself occasionally. When I was grocery shopping this weekend, I bought the prettiest (cheap) bouquet of sunflowers. Now, when I sit in my living room studying for exams, I can look up and see my favorite flowers. For some people, treating yourself can mean taking a day off from studying. I have an early Sunday morning hike planned in a few weeks to do just that. For others, it might be buying a pint of ice cream. Just keep in mind, the point here is to reduce stress. Overspending will not aid in that endeavor.
- Turn off the Screens - Finally, I've found that turning off my TV, closing my computer, and leaving my phone in another room helps tremendously. I try to turn off all of my screens a few times a week and pick up whatever book I'm reading for pleasure. This helps me take a step back from whatever is stressful (emails, homework, etc) and exist in my own space for an hour.
The MAcc program goes by quickly. There's always something you need to be working on, and it's easy to forget that you need to come out on the other side with your sanity intact. In order to manage my stress this semester, I've had to reframe that time as a necessary part of my schedule. Graduate school is meant to help you grow as a professional AND an individual. All of the case studies don't mean anything if you're having a nervous breakdown every week. Especially if you're going into public accounting with the dreaded busy seasons, the stress management techniques you develop now will follow you into your career. You might as well figure out what works for you now when the stakes are relatively low.