Everybody has resolutions about how to take care of their body more, and it seems like physical health takes precedence over mental health, even though they are equally important.
Having a negative mental standpoint can be absolutely detrimental to your semester. It can distract you from work, clubs, events and more. So, it is vital that we all start taking care of ourselves now, before it becomes too late.
Here are my top five tips for taking care of your mental health this semester:
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Don’t over plan
It is so easy to plan your life out in time blocks for every minute of the day, but that is so unhealthy! Leave blocks of time for studying, relaxing, or just free time in general, that way, your calendar doesn’t look too stressful at a glance.
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Meditate
Meditation is often seen as some earthy, crunchy, granola way of relaxation, but it is actually the most effective way of relaxation for me. I meditate either when I wake up or right before I go to bed, and either way, it improves my mental state either for that day or for the next. I feel relaxed, calm, and recharged, and really feel like I can take on the day.
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Do your assignments sooner rather than later
Procrastinating is so easy. SO easy. But the sooner you get your assignments done, the better. Procrastinating is a huge source of stress in my life, so I am actually planning to at least start all of my assignments as soon as I get them this semester.
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Spend time with your friends
Spending more time with your friends will not only help your mindset, but it will also just overall help your mental health. Designating time to focus on your friends will help take your mind off of your daily stressors, and will give you an escape from your problems.
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Learn to take time for yourself
No matter what, YOU come first. That includes your mental health. Learn how to prioritize saying yes to things that improve your mental health, and say no no things that hurt it. Being able to set these priorities straight is entirely necessary for all of us, and it can definitely be hard to say no to going out with friends or joining a new club, but filling your plate too much is probably one of the worst things anyone could do for their mental health, so make sure you’re not taking too much on.