According to bestcolleges.com, the number one mental health problem among college students is depression, followed by anxiety, and research done on college campuses shows that 80 percent of students feel overwhelmed by their responsibilities. That's the one thing that they don’t tell you about college: while you get to make your schedule, join everything, and basically design your entire life, you’ll feel overwhelmingly busy. Whether it’s because you've overbooked yourself, and trying to balance your social life with your library life or your classes are just kicking your butt, you will often forget to step back and enjoy college, especially during that time that shall not be named (a.k.a finals).
While mental illnesses are often linked to genetics and psychological factors, environmental factors can be key in causing in depression among college students. If you’re constantly moving, never sleeping, and always feeling physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted, then you definitely need “you-time”. Below, are five easy ways to de-stress and stay mentally healthy:
1. Say no to that party.
There will always be another party, another cute boy, and another opportunity to wear that dress that’s been hanging in your closet crying out, “Wear me!” If you’ve had a busy week and you know you haven’t gotten enough sleep, don’t worry about making an appearance at that outing. Your friends will understand.
2. Go on a Netflix binge.
As college kids, we think all day long -- we plan out what all we have to do for the week, what we have to turn in, how we’re going to write that paper and what we’re going to write that paper on, and use all of our brainpower for school. When you get home at night, put your headphones, crawl into bed, and start/continue binge-watching “Grey’s Anatomy.” Your brain will definitely thank you.
3. Take up a hobby.
What’s that hobby you’ve always wanted to pick up? The guitar? What about knitting? What about writing? It's still good to give your brain a bit of stimulation, but try using a different part of your brain.
P.S. In college, napping is an acceptable hobby.
4. Get some exercise.
A lot of people underestimate the power of working out -- they think it’s solely for either keeping that college weight down or to help you kill yourself slowly, but surely. However, I often go to the gym for the sole purpose of releasing whatever anger, stress, or charged emotion that I happen to feel that day and I come back feeling a lot better, a lot less stressed, and totally prepared.
5. Sleep, sleep, sleep!
Even if your version of you-time is a 30-minute-turned-three-hour nap, take advantage. I’d say the most important thing in college to worry about is how much sleep you’re getting -- it releases stress and gives your brain a break for a while. And, hey, it feels pretty darn good.
Nothing is more important than staying mentally healthy -- while, yes, class comes first, you should be a priority. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, let go of some responsibilities (preferably not school since, you know, you have to graduate) and extracurricular activities and take a breather. You're supposed to be enjoying this time in your life, not stressing about it, so every day, take some time to yourself, and rejuvenate. Your body and, most importantly, your mind will thank you.
