As students we can get caught up in the busyness of our lives. We deal with stress over grades, assignments, our jobs, money, friends, family, relationships, and more! We can get so busy that we stop taking care of ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I am speaking from my own personal experience. Through this busyness, we have to take care of ourselves and remember the little things in life that can bring us peace, comfort, joy, and good health. Make Time to Exercise
We can be so busy that we go weeks or months without exercising. If weights scare you and you dread treadmills, its ok! There are many ways to exercise. You can play a sport you love, dance, do yoga, do Pilates, walk, jog, ride a bike, and more. Don’t neglect your body because you’re busy. Exercising is also a stress reliever, so try to take 15 to 30 minutes to exercise every other day.
Make Time for Hobbies
You should make time to do things that you enjoy. If you spend most of your time working at a job you don’t like, studying for a class you don’t like, or doing any of your responsibilities that you don’t necessarily enjoy; it can cause you to be down all the time and it can cause a negative mentality. So if you like to read, journal, cook, sew, crochet, do makeup, take pictures, play sports, listen to music, watch tv, or play video games, make time do so and you can feel a whole lot better.
Enjoy Nature
Georgia Southern is a beautiful campus with vivid trees and pretty lakes. Try finding a place on campus where you can be outside breathing in fresh air. You can sit somewhere or stand, and you can open your eyes or close them. You can take this opportunity to breathe in and out. Use all of your senses and focus on the spells, the birds singing, people talking and laughing, wind blowing, sun shining; it can be very relaxing especially after a hard day. The world is amazing, so try and take time to really look around and enjoy the view.Eat Better
As college students we tend to turn to fast foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s nothing wrong with eating fast foods, but too much of it can be unhealthy. Fast foods are high in sodium and calories, so it causes obesity, heart problems, depression, etc. You can try eating fruits and vegetables and drinking lots of water. If you do eat out, you can try being cautious of portion sizes, what you drink, the sauces you use, and the way your food is cooked to make the best decisions for what would be the healthier option.
Be Grateful
When we are stressed, sometimes we can make a lot of complaints. It can help to remember that someone is always worse off than you are and that you actually have much to be grateful for. Some people don’t have jobs or can’t find a job and therefore struggle financially. People in other countries do not have the educational opportunities that Americans have. If you are breathing, can see, hear, talk, or are overall healthy, remember that some people are not. If you do not have a car, be grateful for buses. Just find little things that actually make a big difference to be grateful for. Complaining can be a bad habit, and learning to complain less can help you have more peace and grow as a person.
Make time for those you love
Being too busy can cause you to neglect friends, family, or significant others. A simple phone call can make a big difference in checking on people in your life. Try to spend time with friends even if it’s just to study. Make time for your significant other via text, phone, or FaceTime if you are unable to see them in person. We don’t know what we have until its gone so make time to show those you love that you love them or you could end up losing them. Remember that actions speak louder than words.