College can be a very stressful place and it is often hard to find the time to take a breath.
With classes, extracurriculars, internships and more, being a full-time college student is incredibly demanding.
It gets to the point where we have scheduled when to work out and when to have downtime which is counterproductive to the ultimate relaxation goal.
Here are a couple of ways to prioritize your mental health in the chaotic life of college.
Take Up Journaling
This is a great habit I started when I was in freshman year. It allows for a place of reflection and memory collection that is so unique to you.
Not only will you be able to get all your thoughts down on paper, but it is a great place to foster your creativity and relieve any pent-up energy.
Something about writing your thoughts down on paper makes the emotions feel genuine and it is a great place to see how you have grown throughout the year.
It is such an easy task and it may even give you some manifesting energy.
Start Your Day With Stretching
Stretching at the start of your day is a great way to collect your thoughts before the busy schedule ahead.
You get to wake up each part of your body piece-by-piece and get the endorphins flowing to fuel your brain. Nature’s coffee!
There are so many resources at your disposal on YouTube and TikTok with practices from 5 minutes to an hour, to meet all meditation needs.
You will feel awakened, invigorated and motivated to get your day started.
Surround Yourself With People Who Build You Up
Being in college, it is hard to find people who are genuine and care about building you up.
It is important to find people who have your best interest at heart and won’t bring you down. The best way to do this is to find clubs that reflect your values.
College campuses offer a million clubs that cover any kind of interest you may have. Joining is a great way not only to meet new people but do something that is exciting and new.
Start Reading
Reading, though it can be mundane at times, can open up new worlds that you can escape to during your hectic everyday life. There is no better downtime than starting up a new book.
It is always hard to find the time to start reading with the demands of college classes, but taking 30 minutes at the end of each night to take some time to read is a great solution.
If you need book recommendations look no further than What Should I Read Next? It is the best place to look for suggestions when you are stuck in a reading rut.
Make a Weekly Goals List
This has tremendously helped reduce my stress throughout the week when I have everything I want to accomplish laid in front of me.
It could be as big as completing an assignment or application or as small as calling your friends, the sky is the limit.
It is nice to see all the things get checked off the list and make you feel so accomplished by the end of the week.
Visualizing how to accomplish your tasks is a great stress reliever and will be incredibly beneficial to your mental health.
Stay safe out there and put yourself first! You can’t help others before you help yourself and it just takes a small first step to get there.