As the semester starts to pick up, students transition out of a summer mindset and shift their focus towards schoolwork. For some, the transition is harder than others, and it can lead to an overwhelming amount of stress and anxiety. It’s important to remember between busy schedules and class work to take a moment to breathe and make sure you are reflecting on your own mental state. Although college is an incredible experience, it can be overbearing at times. It’s easy to forget to take the time you need for yourself.
I wanted to share some valuable tips to help keep your mental health in check throughout the semester!
Self Care
Self care can be interpreted in many different ways, but for the sake of these tips I am going to define it as keepinging your body and mind healthy. Physical health can consist of going to the gym, eating the right foods or keeping up with your personal hygiene. Keeping your mind healthy could mean taking time to relax the brain by just watching mindless TV show or practicing yoga and meditation. By fitting self care into your daily schedule, you can create a habit through consistency and daily practice.
Talk to a friend
Sometimes the hardest part is admitting to having stress and negative feelings, especially since mental health issues are constantly undermined. However, one of the best ways to relieve the tension is to get it off your chest and express it in some way. Finding a supportive friend is a great option to expressing feelings of stress, however if talking to someone is too hard, another option of expression could be expression through journaling.
Spend Time With your Passion
It can be easy to lose yourself in work and classes, and sometimes you can lose track of who you are. Even if it's only for 30 minutes a day, take the time to spend part of it doing something you are passionate about. Whether it be playing music, drawing or taking photos, find the time to give back to yourself and indulge in something that makes you happy.
Get Some Sleep
It is extremely important to make sure your body is getting the rest it needs, especially in times of mounting pressure. Not only does sleep energizes you for the following morning, but sleep plays a plays a vital role in retaining and solidifying memories and information the brain processes during the day. Despite the common belief that one should pull an all nighter before a big exam, it is actually better to make sure you get some sleep because it is proven you will retain information after a nights sleep because your brain will process it.
Although at times it may seem like the biggest priority is to stay on top of school work, it’s crucial to consider the mental health factor. If you are not in a positive mental state, you cannot perform at your best daily activities. If you need to take one mental health day ever once and a while or miss a class to reset your headspace, take the time because it will pay off in the long run.
This blog post was written by Emma McClain, President.
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