Being in college, many of us have super jam-packed schedules: work, school, social life, student organizations, Greek life… the responsibilities go on and on. Our lives are a continuous track of being stressed out. It’s not fun, and, let’s be honest, it should not be how we live our lives. We should be embracing the time we have and making the best of our lives in the moment. I have some small ideas that can make a huge difference in your life, so here we go.
Wake up earlier.
By no means am I saying that you need to wake up at 6 a.m. every morning to be happy. I know many of you aren’t morning people, and that’s okay. What I suggest is waking up just 10-30 minutes earlier than your usual time. This extra time (that’s honestly not gonna do you much sleeping wise) allows you to take your time in the morning rather than the normal rush to class. It’s a good time to meditate, eat breakfast, and enjoy your morning coffee.
Plan out your day.
Waking up a bit earlier allows you time to plan out your day. Having a plan of action for the day allows for an easier flow of work. Making a to-do list is a great way to plan out the day and for you to know what needs to be done. Plus, checking off an item on your list will most definitely give you a sense of pride in your day, it’ll make you want to keep on going!
Stretch.
I’ve recently taken up yoga the last couple of weeks, and I’ve never felt so in touch with my body. The stretching has made me feel so great. Now you may not have the time to go to yoga everyday, but just a few simple stretches when you wake up and before bed will make your body feel so much better.
Water, water, water.
One glass of water at night and in the morning can make a huge difference in your life. Cold water is a perfect way to wake yourself up every morning, and it does wonders for your skin and body.
Declutter.
From changing our clothes or rushing to the next class, our rooms can occasionally become pretty messy. A messy room can be distracting to the mind and overwhelm any busy college student. Just a few minutes a night picking up before bed can keep the mess to a minimum.
Make goals.
I’m not talking about “goals” we see all over social media of fairly impossible life/relationship ideas that set super unrealistic expectations. I’m talking about setting a goal to go to the gym three times this week, to finish your readings by Wednesday, or to get an A on your upcoming tests. Setting goals give you a clear idea of what you want to accomplish, along with reasons to celebrate when you accomplish these simple goals.
All in all, even with our super stressful lives, it is so important to take care of ourselves. We are setting up habits that will be done for the rest of our lives, so we might as well get them right. These small, simple things could honestly change your life in the best way. They will help you feel better, less stressed and in control of your life! Try them out!
(Photos from http://www.birminghamtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/happy.jpg, http://inanutshell.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/morn3.jpg, http://wp.nootheme.com/yogi/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/beach-yoga.jpg, http://cdn1.theodysseyonline.com/files/2016/01/04/635874845388029803-944…)