We college students are inundated with ways to take care of ourselves and stay well. Get at least nine hours sleep yet wake up early, go to the gym, do yoga, meditate… the list goes on. For me, however, this laundry-list of wellbeing can be overwhelming and, frankly, feels like yet another thing to tack onto my already busy schedule. How am I realistically supposed to do all of this, get my schoolwork done, and participate in my extracurriculars? It seems unreasonable.
Ironically, as health and wellness culture is glorified, there’s a lot of pressure to not be stressed, and embracing a healthy lifestyle can feel especially daunting. On days when I don’t take the time to exercise, sleep in too late, or fuel myself predominantly with coffee, I feel the exact sense of disappointment and shame that the wellness practices are supposed to prevent me from feeling.
It’s often a struggle to incorporate wellness into our busy lives, but the good news is, it’s not all or nothing. While you should not have to make any compromises regarding your mental and physical health, sometimes, the business and stress of college makes it feel like there’s no other choice. Including healthful practices into one’s daily routine is often most successful when it happens little by little. In my experience, doing so has rid me of shame and has made me feel so much better about myself. Doing small, low-commitment things can make a world of a difference.
Here are a few things I like to do:
1. Create a “Things I Did Today” List
I’ve begun the habit of, at the end of every day, writing a list of everything I’d accomplished that day, almost like the opposite of a “To-Do” list. I’ll log homework assignments, both ones that I completed and work that I didn’t complete but still worked on. I add things I did for my personal life, such as scheduling appointments and sending emails, extracurricular commitments, and things I did for myself to make the day a little bit brighter. This list allows me to recognize small accomplishments and allows me to stay organized while not overfocusing on looming deadlines. Instead of looking at a half-checked off to-do list and feeling guilty and unproductive, I’m able to look back on my day and feel proud of myself for getting more done than I thought.
2. Wake Up Early…ish
If you’re not a morning person, there’s not a lot of use trying to force it. Trust me, I learned the hard way by setting alarms to wake me up earlier than I need to be and spending an hour repeatedly hitting the snooze button. If I’m not awake enough to get out of bed, the only thing I accomplish by this is disturbing my sleep and sometimes making it even harder for me to get up when I actually need to. Instead of waking up at an ambitiously early hour and setting a million alarms, I’ll give myself an extra ten minutes in the morning. These few minutes have allowed me to take some extra time to pick out a cute outfit, put on some makeup, or sip coffee or tea in a coffee shop before class. This relaxed yet productive morning routine sets the tone for the day. When I’m not jumping out of bed, throwing on sweats, and running out the door, I’m much more alert in class, more productive outside of class, and more content overall.
3. Work Out in Your Dorm
I truly believe in the value of exercise beyond building physical strength. Exercise can improve your self-esteem, boost your energy, clear your head, and leave you feeling accomplished. But sometimes, my days are so packed that I just don’t have the time and energy to trek all the way to the athletic center and work out for an hour. So, I love to compromise and do a workout from the comfort of my dorm. I personally prefer to follow a video than to do my own thing, as a video provides me with a sense of structure that I get at the gym. Don’t have a ton of time? Perfect! Working out is actually extremely effective when done at a high intensity for a few minutes, rather than at a low intensity for a prolonged period of time. HIIT workouts are known for being quick but getting you moving, and there are a ton on YouTube and Instagram. My personal favorite workouts to follow are from Blogilates and Whitney Simmons.
4. Take a Fitness Class
Freshman year, my roommate and I signed up for an introductory tennis class on a whim and it ended up being the smartest decision I made regarding my class schedule. Any given semester, Conn offers free, one-credit fitness classes including yoga, pilates, tennis, and spin. Tennis class forced me to wake up early and kick off my day with a bit of physical activity, energizing me for my class right afterwards. These types of classes are perfect if it is hard to find time to go to the athletic center, because you can pick a class that fits into your class schedule. They tend to be 45 minutes long, twice a week, and only run for half a semester, so it’s not a huge time commitment. And because you’ll get credit, you’re being extremely efficient with your time by combining fitness and academics.
5. Limit Screen Time Before Bed
I know, I know, I sound like your mother. See, I know that I should put away my phone two hours before going to bed, but is that ever going to happen? Hard no. I personally like to watch Netflix or YouTube to relax me and tired me out before bed, but I know that staring at a small screen right before bed is bad for my eyes and for my ability to fall asleep. A good alternative? Listen to podcasts. You can get your entertainment in as you doze off, but you don’t need to strain your eyes. My favorite as of late is approachable by Samantha Ravndahl (one of my favorite beauty influencers) and Alyssa Anderson.
Let’s be real: the pressure to live a ~balanced lifestyle~ is real, and self-care is hard sometimes. If you don’t always measure up to the well-balanced lifestyle you aspire to, don’t fret. College life is stressful, and even the smallest changes will make a positive impact on your mental and physical health.