At this week’s Rose Cafe, a couple of psychologists came in from Gannett to discuss stress reduction techniques. One of the things they talked about was conquering a big workload. They suggested having a pre-work routine, which is a routine of things you do before you start working on something. I like to relax and search the web after getting back from class but before starting homework, but I tend to get distracted and waste a lot of time before I actually start working. Another thing they mentioned was working for a little and then taking a break, but they said that breaks that involved social media usually lowered self esteem and decreased productivity. Instead they recommended making some coffee or tea, or taking a walk. I realized that a good break or pre-work routine for me could involve cleaning my room, because it always makes me feel better to have a clean room, but I can never find the time to clean it. The other main topic they discussed was sleep. They again suggested a pre-sleep routine. they also said that it was important to schedule in the sleep and not treat it as optional. At the end of the session we were guided through a short meditation. I have done meditation before, and I have always found it to be pretty useful in terms of stress reduction.