Much of the kind of humor we see especially online – besides the random memes and movie references – are of the self-deprecating kind. According to those, the average university student or millennial (whether you love or hate the word) is an awkward, caffeinated and stressed-out insomniac who spends their last pennies on junk food and getting drunk. Ok, some of those jokes are funny, but let’s not forget that they don’t all necessarily have to hold true.
You might be surprised at how obvious some of the tricks seem. But if you haven’t yet incorporated them in your daily routine, now is the time.
1. Sleep tight
I’m not going to be the pot calling the kettle black. My “evening routine” consists of wrapping up whatever I was doing at the computer by midnight, crawling into bed, and watching stupid YouTube videos on my phone until at least 1 am. At least my blue light filter is on, I tell myself. How about instead of going with a “sleep is for the weak” mindset, we’d start thinking “sleep will make me strong”? Because it will.
Health professionals agree on that sleep boosts your brain as well as your immune system. Low attention span? Sleep more. Feeling stressed? Sleep more. Aim for the 8-hour mark. According to the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS, or YTHS in Finnish), good night’s sleep can be promoted by promoting good “sleep hygiene”. That means also not sleeping too much – aim to sleep up at regular hours in the morning, even during days off, so as to keep your sleep pattern in check.
If you can’t sleep and nothing you’ve tried works, if the cause of your poor sleep can’t be treated itself, or if your long-term sleeplessness is becoming an issue in your daily performance, you might be suffering from insomnia, in which case you can consult your doctor for short-term sleeping pills. As also noted by FSHS, “sleeping pills may help but they are not a permanent solution to the problem”.
2. Eat properly
You might not have the money to always splurge on organic food and you might not have the will-power to adopt that diet (I know I’ll never give up my carbs), but good nutrition is essential and does not mean you can’t treat yourself every now and then. Stay hydrated and aim for a balanced diet that has a bit of everything – protein, carbs, unsaturated fats and vitamins that keep you going and that will keep you full for a long time. Avoid salt and alcohol.
Even if you don’t go full vegetarian or vegan, incorporate vegetables in every meal as sources of vitamins and fiber and as a cheaper and more environment-friendly alternative for meat. For people who just aren’t good at or really don’t like cooking at home, a solid lunch at UniCafe is a better deal than a McD meal both in terms of nutrition and money. According to a guide for healthy nutritional habits published by Kela (available in Finnish and Swedish), the energy value of a student lunch is 50–55 percent from carbohydrates, 30–35 percent from fats, and 13–17 percent from protein. If you’re willing to try your chef skills at home, though, meal prepping can be a real time-saver, boost healthy food habits, and make it easier to cook for one person without food waste.
3. Keep moving
Whether intensive Body Combat or long evening and weekend walks with a friend, everybody can find a form of exercise they enjoy. Of course, weight loss or muscle gain can be reasons to exercise, but so are hormones. Endorphins are hormones that increase appetite, reduce stress and anxiety, even alleviate depression. Don’t know where to start? Maybe you could add a bit of extra walking by getting off your bus or train a stop earlier? For something more, refer to a previous article of ours covering great options for students looking for fitness training in Helsinki. Indoor exercise can be more convenient, but walking or even just being outdoors is great for combating mental fatigue, sorting out your thoughts, and relaxing. There are a lot of parks and other green areas in Helsinki region for you to reap the benefits. Try it out!
4. Manage your time
Ok, all the tips above seem great and all, but how do you manage to keep up with them alongside coursework, a job, family obligations and hobbies? To avoid having to pull all-nighters and to know how much time you have left, keep a journal for your to-do lists and monthly goals. Plan ahead what needs to be done when and set deadlines before the actual final deadline.
Proquest’s graduate student help center advises sorting tasks into required and desired activities. What are the things you need to do in order to progress in your studies (classes, homework, thesis work)? What are the things you need to do to stay human (food, sleep and rest, social obligations to your family or partner, part-time work)? Prioritize these as these will push you towards your goal. The rest of the day you can focus on the desired but not required activities (hobbies, other socializing, extra studying). Try adding “procrastination on social media” to the hobbies section, because that’s a real time-consumer especially when studying at a computer. But know your limits. Even if you were a real high-achiever in school and a go-getter in every aspect of your life, don’t try to enroll on too many courses or join too many societies especially if you have a part-time job. There are some amazing people who can do that, no problem (hats off to you if you’re one of them), but if this doesn’t apply to you, you shouldn’t force yourself.
5. Don’t stress (too much)
You’ve probably heard this one before: don’t compare yourself to others. People’s social media accounts rarely tell the whole truth, so don’t think too much about how your friends on Facebook seem to be leading so fun, chic and healthy lifestyles. Even your closer friends could harbor something they worry or feel insecure about that they haven’t told you. Role-models and inspirational people are great, but you should look to them as goals rather than mirrors revealing all your own faults.
Similarly, reading articles titled along the line of “Habits of highly successful people” can be daunting – you don’t feel like a successful person and you don’t have the budget to live like one. Besides, even if you feel listless and lost, your feelings are valid and it’s not always necessary to aim to join the next Forbes list. Remember to be kind to yourself: sometimes it’s enough to just give yourself time, respect yourself and the choices you make, and trust that you’ll find your own thing and build a safe, healthy and happy life. Don’t forget to think about what you want out of life, as your decisions now are what drives you, but don’t worry about the future so much it affects your physical or mental well-being right now.