We’ve all been there. The stress of essays and tests, upcoming assignments, and the never ending pile of textbooks upon novels upon scholarly articles, not to mention the commute and that part time job that seems to chew up all of your free time, plus family responsibilities, friends, a significant other… it can all seem too much. It can feel like you are drowning. And while you’ve barely found the time to eat and sleep, let alone relax, it is really important to think about taking care of your physical and your mental health. You can’t expect to do a great job at everything if your mind is not in the right place. It takes some people years, if not a life time to figure this out. I know I am still trying to remind myself of this fact. But here’s the thing: when you keep a positive and relaxed mind, everything suddenly becomes much easier.
You may be thinking “well yeah, that sounds nice. But that also sounds a little too much like a fairy tale, or a romantic comedy, or that random talk show you found on TV that one time you were home sick in grade 9 with the lady in the gorgeous get up who talks about how to stay ‘positive’ – whatever that means” (maybe that was just me).
And yes, I won’t lie to you. I was hesitant at first. And none of this comes easy. It seems downright impossible sometimes. But once you get into the habit of taking care of yourself, you can’t stop.
Okay, but how?
Well, for starters, as weird as it sounds, incorporate more laughter into your day. The Ryerson Centre of Student Development and Counselling had these wonderful cards last year that looked like a Nutrition Facts section of a cereal box. It listed a bunch of things you need for better mental health, and the first thing listed was laughter. This could be done by taking a 15 minute funny cat video break 4 times a day, or watching an hour long episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. It’s important to remember that laughter is the best medicine.
It’s also important to eat healthy. And I know how expensive eating healthy is. Trust me. I. Know. But eating healthy really does make an impact on your mental health. Even if you decide to go really cheap and really quick and make yourself a chickpea or bean salad out of canned chickpeas and beans, or by adding frozen spinach to your pasta dish, and even squirting half a lemon into your glass of water helps with your digestion and metabolism.
I cannot stress how important it is to get at least 8 hours of sleep per day. We adults need at least 8 hours of sleep per day in order to function properly. You need it. Stop drinking the coffee. Put it down, right now. I am not taking no for an answer. Drop it. Good! Now go to sleep at a reasonable time! No, 2AM is not a reasonable time.
Lastly, have fun at university! This is the time where you get to experience so many awesome things without being tied down to a demanding 9-5, crazy kids, or a spouse that asks “honey can you rub my feet? I’ve had a long day”. Make time for friends, and attend events. There’s a therapy dog session that occurs every Wednesday at 12PM. This is my absolute favourite event on campus to attend because it relaxes me, as well as forces me to get out there, meet people and smile!
Essentially, it comes down to this: Budget your time wisely. Create a schedule and make time for yourself in that schedule. Fit in time for meditation, for sleeping, for hanging out with your friends. And don’t forget to ask for help when you need it. Seriously. Do not be afraid of asking for help. People want to help you. There are literally hundreds of people on campus that get paid to help you.
Remember: love immensely, laugh often, and reduce negativity whenever possible. These are words to live by.
Photo Sources:
http://twloha.tumblr.com/post/138968066435
https://giphy.com/gifs/afv-3oEduTElttOJ1bJlSM
https://giphy.com/gifs/food-gif-healthy-9UQSRw0BWoJBm
https://giphy.com/gifs/state-university-socawlege-bPnun3MEJlDQA