By Alexia Del Priore
As a university student, it’s easy to feel alone when overwhelmed with so many duties—a million tasks for school, a part-time job, keeping up a social life, getting an adequate amount of sleep, and maybe even a side hobby on top of it all. Always know that you’re not alone, keeping in mind that these factors are a common reality for many students. This is why making sure you’re maintaining your mental health is of the utmost importance during the semester. Here are five tips you can start implementing into your daily routine today.
1. Minimize your screen time
I wanted to put this tip first because I find this crucial. We don’t realize how much time we actually spend on our smartphones. Many studies like this one say that a quarter of millennials spend more than five hours a day on their phones, while more than half spend at least three hours. It’s alarming thinking about what you could be doing with those hours instead, but especially before bed it’s critical to unplug. Especially someone like myself with anxiety, I try to put my phone in another room or shut it off at least 30 minutes before bed. This small tip, if you consistently try to follow it everyday, actually makes the world of a difference. I use the time to read before bed or meditate to put myself in a state of calmness. Not only does looking at your screen in the dark strain your eyes (yes, even with night shift on) but it also doesn’t allow your brain to shut off before bed. This can result in not allowing you to fall into the deep ‘REM’ sleep that our bodies need.
2. Listen to podcasts
Instead of scrolling through social media when you have a free moment from your responsibilities, instead try tuning into some podcasts that interest you. I personally listen to one podcast a day and it’s amazing how much you can learn from them. Some are actually really motivating, especially if you’re feeling down or having a bad day. I personally enjoy listening to them on my walk to school or while taking a break from whatever I am working on.
3. Incorporate at least ten minutes of physical activity into your day
I know that going to the gym isn’t feasible for everyone, especially not everyday. I understand that life gets busy and for a lot of us physical activity can get pushed to the side. However, this doesn’t mean you have to accomplish a long or hard workout. Even a ten minute walk, jog, or stretch on a yoga mat I personally find really helps me when I’m feeling overwhelmed, and it also gets those endorphins going!
4. Light a calming candle scent
While studying or working on an assignment, if I’m home I always like to light a candle. I have a few aromatherapy ones, which help to reduce stress and allow you to feel calmer. Bath and Body works recently just released an amazing aromatherapy line with different scents, each for something specific. Their “sleep” candle with lavender and cedarwood, along with “focus” that is eucalyptus based are two of my absolute favourites.
5. Give yourself positive affirmations
Your mindset and how you view yourself is truly everything. If you are constantly beating yourself up over situations, it’s only going to lead to negative self perceptions and have an affect on your overall mood. This is something I’ve started implementing into my daily routine and I’ve found it to be not only helpful but motivating for a good day ahead. It may sound a bit corny at first, but in the morning I make sure to tell myself at least one thing I love about myself in the mirror and one thing I’m proud of myself for accomplishing at night before going to bed. After all the only person you have for life is you, so show yourself some love, girl!