College is arguably one of the most shocking and difficult transitions that most young adults will ever face. It is a completely new environment, chock-full of unique challenges that have likely never been tackled before. When sharing a living space for the first time, meeting new people, taking harder classes, and maybe even being far from home, taking care of your mental health can seem like a very low-priority issue. However, putting yourself first can often help you succeed in all other aspects of your college career.
Coming to college can take an intense toll on your mental health. It can be incredibly hard to leave home and be placed in a foreign environment without friends or family. There are a few helpful tips that can help you create to reach a stable and strong emotional state which will, in turn, help you accomplish other goals.
Alone time is so important in college. Sometimes college freshmen will attempt to get involved with everything all at once, so they can find friends and avoid being alone altogether, but that is not the way to go. While it can seem strange, and even awkward, being alone with your thoughts allows you to confront your problems head-on. It can help you to understand and control your emotions on a deeper and more intimate level. Being able to have some time alone to think will prevent you from bottling up your emotions, which will inevitably cause them to burst.
Dopamine dressing is such a fun way to boost confidence and it honestly will just make you happy. Dopamine dressing, while it sounds kind of scientific, boils down to wearing and buying clothes that make you feel good and happy. You can do this in many different ways, but I personally like to wear bright colors.
I find that New York winters are very difficult to get through, especially if you have mental health issues, because literally everything is grey. Dressing in bright colors just boosts my mood. However, dopamine dressing is more than just a colorful sweatshirt or a purple dress, it just means wearing things that make you look in the mirror and feel happy with yourself.
While it sounds impractical, especially in college, staying away from drugs and alcohol can help your mental health and physical health more than I can describe with words. Yes, every college student is likely to drink at one point or another, but make an effort to not binge drink and allow yourself time to recover from drinking. Drinking culture is so normalized when in reality, it is literally poison for your body. With drinking comes hangovers, and even worse: hangxiety. These are not two things you want to have in your life if you are trying to improve your mental health. As for drugs, it takes one time to get addicted or even overdose. This issue comes down to surrounding yourself with good, strong-willed, and honest people. Being surrounded by good influences helps you make good choices and act in your own self-interest. It is ok to miss a weekend at the bars or a party. Put yourself first.
Almost every college in America has a gym for students to use, and the best advice I can give to help create a healthy emotional state is to go to the gym. You don’t have to be some crazy gym rat with an insane body, but you have to move your body in some way. Not only will this keep your physical health in check, but when you work out, your body releases endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that are released in the brain. They promote feelings of happiness, so staying active can help your emotional wellbeing. If running, walking, or lifting is not your speed (no pun intended), you can meditate or practice yoga. As long as you are making an effort to put time into yourself and connect with your body, you are acting in a way that will help your mental health in the long run.
If you are struggling with mental health, reach out. Talk to someone. Talk to a friend, a counselor, an RA or anyone. One in five adults in America will struggle with mental health, so the last thing you are is alone.