As fun as college is, it can be equally as stressful.
When college gets stressful, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits, bouts of anxiety, and depressed moods—the Perfect Storm, the “Stress Triad.” When the Stress Triad hits, self-care becomes less important as studying and work become more immediate priorities.
A lack of self-care and a wave of the Stress Triad can lead to feeling “blah.” So, put up your dukes and try these self-care tricks to get out of that funk!
Get outside more. Vitamin D levels, the vitamin we get from sunlight, tend to lower during the winter, since there’s less sun outside. Vitamin D and natural sunlight can improve your mood. So, even though it feels like you have absolutely no extra time on your hands, try to make time to get outside. You can do this by studying in Freedom Square, or walking to class instead of taking the shuttle. Even the tiniest bit of sunlight can help. You can also take additional Vitamin D supplements, if you feel you might need more than you have time to get from just the sun.
Drink more water. Drinking more water often leads to healthier and clearer skin. It also helps in flushing out toxins in your body. Staying hydrated is important, especially when under intense stress. Sometimes water seems like a “boring” drink, so you can try adding slices of lemon (and other fruits) or cucumber to the water to add some flavor. You can also try water-based cleanses, like the Master Cleanse that uses water, lemon, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper. Be sure to do some research or talk to your health care provider before starting a cleanse, so that you can make sure you’re making the best health choice for your body.
Start a journal. When everyone is stressed out, it can feel like you don’t have anyone to talk to. If you feel like that’s the case, consider starting a journal. Getting all of your emotions out and down on paper is a great way to relieve your frustrations. If you feel like journaling isn’t enough though, it’s a good idea to look into professional help from a counselor or therapist who can listen and offer objective advice for other coping strategies.
Treat yo self. Just like Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford do, treat yo self. Spend a day that’s all about you. Block out a Saturday and spend it alone. Go shopping and buy that dress you’ve been lusting after for weeks. Eat some chocolate ice cream. Draw a bath and throw in a Lush bath bomb. Indulge in your favorite romantic comedy (I suggest a classic like Breakfast at Tiffany’s). You are a priority, even if you don’t feel like it.
(Quick Tip: When you’re feeling lousy, pretend you’re a princess, a khaleesi, or some other kind of royalty. Why? Well, you’d never insult royalty, would you? You treat royalty with the upmost respect and kindness. That’s how you should always be treating yourself. It’s a quick and easy way to get in the “treat yo self” mood, too.)
Dance. That’s right, just dance. Put on some fun music and just start jamming out. Go hard. Go crazy. Get wild! Get your endorphins pumpin’, while you’re bumpin’! Even choosing a song and choreographing your own funny dance can make a great study break. Take that time to shake out all the stress and focus on yourself. You don’t have to worry about how you look because no one’s watching. You are free to be.
Eat fruit. Fruits are not only healthy, but also sweet and delicious. Sure, fruits are an important part of a healthy diet, but eating just one can make you feel like a health goddess. And, when you feel like a health goddess, you’ll want to keep feeling like a health goddess. Fruits are great on their own and with meals. Try blueberries or strawberries in your morning bowl of Special K cereal. Try raspberries in chocolate frozen yogurt. Mix frozen strawberries, bananas, and raspberries with a vanilla Greek yogurt cup and a cup of water in a blender to create a delicious smoothie.
Write daily sticky-note affirmations. It may sound lame, but writing little messages and then posting them up on your mirror or laptop screen can remind you that things are going to be okay and you will overcome this stress and the symptoms accompanying it. A few of my favorite affirmations are: “You are more than how you feel,” “Things will get better,” and “You are resilient.”
(Quick Tip: If you don’t have sticky-notes, try making your own phone or laptop backgrounds. PicMonkey.com is a great resource.)
To start you off, here are a few examples:
You need to make time for yourself. Self-care is an important step in managing stress, and lack of self-care can sometimes lead to more stress. So, fight the “blah” and the Stress Triad and you’re going to be okay again.