If you have ever been on a plane, there is one instruction during the safety announcement that can be applied to all areas of life: put your own oxygen mask on first. As college students, it is far too easy (and common!) to take on more projects and responsibilities than you can handle. We expect that we can handle anything that comes our way and, in the process, forget one crucial element of success: taking care of ourselves first.
I know – trust me, I know – this doesn’t sound feasible for someone who is, for example, participating in three different student associations, working part-time, and attending classes full-time. How are you supposed to fit in any “you” time in a schedule that’s organized to the minute and split in eight million different directions? It doesn’t have to be so complicated, actually. It’s quite simple. Just put your own oxygen mask on first.
Here’s a list of ten things that can help you take care of yourself and your decrease your stress levels this fall.
1. Breathe
Don’t laugh. It’s important and it’s one of the easiest things to forget. When I was younger, my siblings and I were given one instruction when we were frazzled about anything: take a deep breath. I’m sure you’re familiar with the phrase. Breathing is crucial for basically everything. If you take the time to remember to breathe properly and deeply, you will bring your stress level down a notch even when you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything.
2. Stay Hydrated
This seems like a no-brainer, but let me tell you the amount of times I’ve had a headache in the library because of dehydration. Hydration is key to taking care of yourself, and will help you in little ways you won’t notice when you’re feeling overwhelmed. As the fall semester starts, make sure you’re drinking enough water. This is easier if you pick up a reusable bottle and fill it up at water fountains around campus whenever it’s empty. If you don’t like the non-existent taste of water, you can infuse your water and create your own flavours by adding fruit. There are even apps, like Plant Nanny and Waterlogged, to keep you on track!
3. Know Your Limits (and Capabilities)
The first step of taking care of yourself is acknowledging when you’re reaching your physical or emotional limit. We all think we can accomplish anything we put our minds to, but unfortunately, there are times that even every superwoman needs a break. Learn to recognize your warning signs whether it’s that feeling in your gut, or dizziness and listen to your body. It’s okay to not conquer everything at once, so learn when it’s time to call it a night (or an early morning after an all-nighter.)*
*All-nighters are not recommended as a method of self-care.
4. Learn to Say No
This goes hand in hand with knowing your limits. It is ridiculously easy to take on too many responsibilities at the beginning of the semester. Especially in the first week of September, when you believe that joining every single on-campus group you’re interested in is going to be the best decision you make in your university career. Or, maybe you want to attend all the back-to-school parties. While getting involved on campus is a great way to meet new people and gain valuable life skills, there are only 24 hours in a day, and you’re going to need to use some of that time for studying, eating, sleeping and taking care of yourself.
It’s okay if you can’t do it all, and it’s okay to turn down some of those opportunities if you can’t.
5. Try to Get Outside
You know it’s time to head outside when you start to feel overwhelmed by the lecture halls on campus and you just can’t stare at your textbook anymore. A great way to take care of yourself is to go on a quick walk outside and enjoy the fresh air. It helps you breathe, and you can get some vitamin D that will take you outside of your study bubble just long enough for you to refocus.
6. Stay Active (Whatever That Means for You)
To quote one of my favorite movie heroines, Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods, “Exercise creates endorphins, endorphins make you happy and happy people just don’t [have complete breakdowns over spilling milk in the morning].” I may have adlibbed that last bit, but it’s true. If you try to fit 20 to 30 minutes of exercise in regularly throughout your week, your brain will be happier, and your body will thank you for it. Check out the on-campus fitness facilities to register for a fun fitness class, or sign up for a gym membership if that’s more your style. You don’t have to immediately leap into CrossFit or anything insane, but staying active is going to help you take care of yourself both physically and mentally throughout the semester.
7. Keep Your Expectations Realistic
We all want that 4.0 GPA. It’s ideal and also very possible… for some of people. For the rest of us mere mortals, it’s important that we don’t set unrealistic goals and expectations for ourselves. Creating goals that aren’t achievable or setting ourselves up for disappointment can seriously detriment our mental health. Save yourself the stress; when you set your goals, always remember that you’re only human. Success doesn’t have to mean having the highest GPA. Figure out what success means for you, but don’t get so caught up in it that it starts to haunt your dreams.
8. Have a Support System You Can Rely On, and Use it
It’s crucial to have someone you can count on to be there for you when you’re wearing the same sweatpants for the fourth day in a row and you haven’t showered in a week because you’re so overwhelmed.* Figure out who the Meredith to your Cristina is, and hold onto that person for dear life. It’s normal to need help, and also more than alright to ask for it. Always surround yourself with people who will be there when you need them.
*The author is definitely not speaking from personal experience.
9. (Try to) Get Enough Sleep
Don’t roll your eyes at me just yet. I know that this is maybe the hardest part of taking care of yourself, but getting enough sleep makes your brain function properly. When you mess up your sleep cycle, you’re more likely to feel moody, lethargic, and have cognitive issues than when you get those seven to nine hours of sleep per night. While it is sometimes necessary to sacrifice shut-eye in order to study for a midterm or finish an essay, it’s actually more beneficial to your success if you catch a bit more sleep rather than cram, according to healthland.time.com (and a thousand other sources).
10. (Try to) Eat a Balanced Diet
Eat your vegetables! And grains! And fruits! And protein! You get the point. Eating a balanced diet is going to help reduce stress in the long run. It’s a surefire way of staying on top of the impending flu season. When you’re healthy and ingest all the nutrients you need, you are more productive and don’t have to worry about fighting some pesky cold or flu. Try to eat as healthy as possible. Not much of a chef? There are plenty of healthy and affordable recipes online with full video tutorials to help you out! Find a food routine that works for you, and stick to it as often as you can.