As 2019 comes to an end, take time to reflect back on what improved in your life, and what still needs to be worked on. It’s easier said than done, but paying attention to your mental health and doing the right things for yourself will pay off in the end. Improving your mental health will take time, but doing these little steps will make you an overall happier and more efficient person.
The first step you should take is to really make an effort to watch your eating habits, and change them if needed. It’s so important that we take care of our bodies and eat foods that will give us the nutrients we need. Of course it’s okay to snack once in a while, but we also need to make sure we’re eating the right things to make our bodies stay healthy and energized. One thing I’ve noticed with a lot of college students is that we aren’t eating enough calories. Surprise guys…our bodies actually need a certain amount of calories per day to stay healthy! Some ways to change these eating habits is by meal prepping, downloading fitness/nutrition apps, and looking up new quick and healthy meals to make.
The second step is to cut off anything or anyone toxic in your life. By this, I mean with social media and in person. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the content we come across on social media, but sometimes this isn’t the best for us. Usually, spending hours on social media can leave us comparing ourselves to others, which then leads to a lack of self-esteem. In order to combat this, start by unfollowing/muting accounts that leaves you feeling bad about yourself, trust me, it’s worth it. It’s also important to do this in person. If you feel like you have a negative person in your life who has been causing you any sense of anxiety, sadness, or stress, then this person is toxic. You don’t have to completely cut off this person, but be aware that you feel this way with this person and try to distance yourself.
Another step to get on track and start improving your mental health is to stay organized and efficient. Even though this sounds simple, most people don’t realize how important this is. By staying organized, not procrastinating, and keeping track of everything, you’ll start to feel so much clearer and less stressed. It definitely depends on your type of personality and how you get work done, but I PROMISE that getting your work finished before it’s due, instead of scrambling at the last moment, will make a huge difference in the way you feel. I would suggest getting a planner and setting reminders on your phone, these are huge resources for time management and staying organized.
The most important step to take is to make sure you’re taking time to just enjoy living life. With all the chaos that college brings, it sometimes feels like we don’t get a chance to breathe. However, it’s so important that we make time for ourselves to just live a little. Don’t get so caught up with work and school, college is some of the best times of our lives and we should soak up every minute of that. It’s ok sometimes to just go out and have fun (and if you follow the previous step, you shouldn’t have to worry about assignments that are due tomorrow!) Take time to hang out with friends and family as much as you can. Surrounding yourself with loved ones will significantly improve your mood and let you forget about all the chaos.
With these steps in mind, I promise that your new year will start off on the right foot. Sometimes we don’t realize that our mental health is suffering, and we need to make changes in our life. Don’t be afraid to make these changes, it will only benefit you in the long run.