Let’s be real for a moment, college can be stressful. Sure there are tons of wonderful, fun things to experience in college, but there are also plenty of stressors as well. Whether it be from the heavy workload, or from being homesick. The best thing to do is take care of yourself both physically and mentally. Here are some things that you can do to make sure that your mind and body are being taken care of during your time in college.
1. Relaxation Techniques:
Sometimes you just need to take a minute and just take your mind off of whatever is stressing you out. Breathing exercises, yoga, or even listening to music are effective ways to relax and lower stress
2. Relationships:
Whether it be romantic or just friendly, you need to have people to talk to and hang out with. Feeling connected with others is an important aspect of good mental health. Ways you can make friends on campus is introducing yourself to people in your residence hall, joining a club or organization, or participating in a sport.
3. Exercise:
There are so many benefits from regular physical activity. Reduced stress, release of endorphins (chemicals that have a naturally relaxing and calming affect on the body), improved memory, increased energy, improved sleep, improved focus, and so much more. Exercising can seem overwhelming to people but going to the gym is not the only option for regular physical activity. You can take the stairs instead of the elevator, grab a friend or two and take a walk around campus, the possibilities are endless.
4. Nutrition:
A healthy diet is a big part of taking care of yourself, especially in college (i.e. the dreaded freshman 15). Most campuses nowadays have many healthy options in their dining halls and/or food courts. Eating healthy is not the only thing to do to keep yourself healthy, however. For example, do not skip breakfast. It’s not called The Most Important Meal of the Day for nothing!
5. Sleep:
I think I speak for all of us when I say that sleep is one of the best things ever. Sometimes, though, stress and anxiety can keep that away from us. Some ways to help you sleep better are to not use technology about 30 minutes before you go to sleep. The light that emits from screens block melatonin which can help you fall asleep. Another thing is no caffeine after 3pm. Finally, try to only sleep one hour longer on the weekends than you usually do on the weekdays. Oversleeping can actually cause sleep deprivation.