School, for most of us, is guaranteed to increase our anxiety. Either anxiety that already exists inside us or anxiety we never knew we were capable of feeling. This can be combated in many ways, such as exercise, a long talk with a friend, or dropping out of school (kidding), but one that is probably not so obvious is using “beauty” as a way to reduce this stress.
For me, this means makeup. Makeup is a way to split my day up into two sections: When I have it on I still have responsibilities I need to take care of, and when it comes off that’s when I can relax and unwind. It doesn’t always work this way (makeup can only hang onto your face for so long), but the idea still holds. Makeup has been getting way more popular for the last couple years, and that’s because it’s fun for a lot of people to do. You sit down in front of a mirror and have the opportunity to focus solely on yourself for however long it takes you. I would rather not admit how long it usually takes me. This is the only time during the day some people have to just focus on themselves. It can be a very stress-relieving activity, which sets you up right for the rest of your day.
Putting on makeup is an act of self-love. You know it’s going to be short lasting and washed off at the end of your day, but you decide the confidence it gives you or the fun you have applying it is worth it. Spending time on something like your appearance can be so trivial compared with all the other worries pulling at your mind, but can give you a moment to let go of those worries and feel a little better.
This doesn’t have to be about makeup either. Spending some time doing your hair or painting your nails, as long as you’re enjoying it, can leave a great impact on you for the rest of the day. As the cliché goes: When you look good, you feel good.
