Mental health is an important topic to discuss on college campuses, as it is one of the most common issues faced by students. With steep learning curves, heavy assignment loads, and challenging social interactions, college students experience a lot of stress. If left unchecked, prolonged stress can lead to more severe mental health problems. Here are some tips on how you can relieve stress and protect your mental health while you attend college.
Know Your Limits
Establish boundaries on how much time and effort you are willing to put into school work and other activities. Avoid taking on too much at once. Work hard but do not forget to give yourself time to relax and have fun. And remember that you do not have to do everything on your own. You can turn to your tutors, friends, or family members if you need advice or help with your studies. If you are struggling with essay writing, make use of an essay writing service to take a load off your shoulders. Knowing when to seek help with your homework can help you to deal with the backlog of assignments so you can focus on meeting your future deadlines.
Get Some Exercise
Physical activity can help lower your stress levels, lighten your mood, improve your sleep quality, and enhance your academic performance. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults should move more and sit less. It can be hard to motivate yourself, but you should participate in moderate aerobic activity such as yoga for 150 minutes a week or vigorous aerobic activity such as jogging for 75 minutes a week. In addition, you should spend at least two days a week on strength training. Consider joining the gym on your campus or signing up for a sports club. Exercise also gives you a chance to spend time with your friends.
Socialize With Friends
College is a great time to develop your social skills and meet new people. Spending time with people that you care about can help you feel supported and increase your confidence and self-esteem. You can commiserate with your classmates about the challenges of school or escape reality for a while by gaming with friends. Having other people who understand what you are going through will help you to maintain good mental health. However, take care not to overdo it. Too much time spent on social activities can create stress as you fail to meet your academic deadlines. Also, be careful only to partake in positive interactions and steer clear of toxic people and activities.
Disconnect From Devices
Disconnecting from your digital devices, especially social media, can help you to calm your mind. Many college students feel ‘addicted’ to their devices and unable to disconnect from the digital world. Being constantly bombarded by notifications can make you feel stressed and anxious, which can interfere with your mental health and performance in school. Researchers found that 40% of students have their sleep interrupted by phone calls and 47% by text messages. These students reported poorer sleep quality and were predisposed to experience symptoms of anxiety or depression. It can be hard at first, but try to stop using your devices at least an hour before bedtime. Put your phone on silent and keep it in a drawer overnight.
Have Enough Sleep
Sleep is important for your mental and physical function. A lot of students tend to burn the midnight oil and find themselves too tired to pay proper attention to their classes the next day. Develop healthy sleeping habits like getting to bed at a reasonable hour and avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evening. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day so your body gets into a fixed rhythm. This can help you to sleep better at night and be more energetic in the morning. Instead of trying to force your mind to focus when it is tired, take a 15-minute power nap to improve your alertness and performance.
Try Meditation
It is easy to get caught up in all the noise and pressure of college life and lose track of who you really are. Meditation can help reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance your overall well-being. It can also help you to find inner peace and get a stronger sense of self. There are several free guided meditation apps that you can use to help you get started. Guided meditations can be as short as two minutes or as long as half an hour. A gratitude meditation is a great way to start the day on a positive note. If you are feeling stressed, a calming meditation can help you to relax and regroup.
College can be a wonderful experience but it can also be very stressful. A 2017 study by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) found that anxiety and depression are the two most common reasons that students seek mental health services. Therefore, you should always prioritize your mental and emotional needs. If you feel like your state of mind may be deteriorating, do not hesitate to reach out to a campus counselor or a trusted family member for support.