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Wellness > Mental Health

How I Prioritize My Mental Health

Camiyah Ford
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Howard chapter.

Not knowing how to take care of your mental health can hurt your overall well-being. Juggling academic responsibilities, securing internships, career offers, extra-curriculars, and your social life isn’t easy. However, you must start with a clear and healthy mindset to push through all of your responsibilities. As a junior at Howard University, I understand the importance of taking care of yourself first and how much your mental health aids in academic and personal goals. 

Here are some wonderful ways I’ve learned to prioritize mental health, while furthering academic studies, and personal goals. 

  1. Quitting negative self-talk. I’ve learned at times, you can be your biggest critic. It’s always good to have high expectations for yourself. However, if you’re never looking back at your accomplishments, you may never become appreciative of how far you’ve come.Try giving yourself compliments every day or create a positivity jar. Write something positive daily, place it in a jar, and look back at it within a year. This has allowed me to reflect on positive accomplishments each day. 
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Photo by Nicole De Khors from Burst/Shopify
  1. Learn to say no: I realized you’ll never be happy if you’re constantly saying yes to things you don’t want to proceed with. Trying to please others can make you feel burned out and unhappy. Your time is important and is a valuable token you should cherish. Also, learning to say no builds your boundaries and allows people to understand your limits.
  1. Prioritize your social life: It’s very easy to fall into pressure with your workload. However, making time for your hobbies, activities, and special interests is highly important and should be prioritized. Spend quality time with your family and friends, making sure to create opportunities that allow you to have some fun.
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Photo by Levi Guzman from Unsplash
  1. Manage Your Time: Time management is imperative while trying to balance my academic responsibilities and personal well-being. But I found that organizing tasks and goals can help you achieve them. Making a to-do list can help you organize your critical deadlines while allowing time for breaks. Creating a list has also helped me avoid procrastination and allowed me to stay on top of my workload. 
  1. Ask for help: Sometimes it may be very hard to handle situations by yourself. Having a support group is very important when times get hard. This could be your friends, family, or medical professionals who can help aid in having important and quality conversations. It’s crucial to have an open conversation with someone you can trust.

Remember there are unique ways to take care of your mental health. Also remember it’s normal to feel stressed, anxious, nervous, or tired while in school. Self-care and your mental health is highly important. If you or anyone you know needs immediate help The DC Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) Mental Health Hotline is 1-888-793-4357 (1-888-7WE-HELP) it’s available 24/7 and is trained by mental health professionals.

 If you or someone you know is seeking help for mental health concerns, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website, or call 1-800-950-NAMI(6264). For confidential treatment referrals, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website, or call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357). In an emergency, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK(8255) or call 911.

My name is Camiyah Ford, and I am a junior in Howard University's Honors Program, double majoring in sociology and political science. I'm a first-generation college student from Richmond, Virginia, and I'm passionate about social justice, especially as it relates to political theory and race. My dedication to learning how Black communities can attain greater social and economic empowerment has grown as a result of my scholastic path. As a certified makeup artist and brand ambassador for companies like Impressions of Beauty, Bubble Skincare, BOOHOO, and Good Molecules, I work in the beauty industry in addition to my education. Through this business, I've been able to embrace my love of beauty and develop my marketing and social media skills. I'm particularly curious about how Black women are affected by beauty standards and how the beauty industry can be a potent vehicle for economic independence and self-expression. I also enjoy mentoring younger students, traveling, and writing poetry. I want to continue my path after graduation by going into law and fighting for justice and social equity.