1. Find something that inspires you.
Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
What word comes to mind when you think of college? Well personally, after almost two years of experience, the synonym I first come up with is anxiety. In fact, college makes my anxiety go through the roof. With tests, papers, and group projects corrupting my life, I tend to build up stress and as the due date approaches, anxiety settles in. It is something that we all must overcome to be a good student, so why not have some help? This quote is my relief: "Let go and let God.
2. Peanut butter.
This is dedicated out to all the freshman girls that are terrified of the "freshman fifteen." Go to Walmart and buy yourself the biggest jar of peanut butter you can find. Thank me later. Peanut butter will be your new best friend because it's so convenient to carry with you to class or the library. Take a spoon and eat it out of the jar while you're studying, or slather it on a piece of bread for a quick snack. It's made for stress eating, mental breakdowns, break-ups, and when you're just so bored that you eat everything in sight. Peanut butter contains protein and potassium that will pick you up when you're down in a sticky situation.
3. Make the gym your new boyfriend.
Seven out of ten adults say that they are effected by anxiety and stress during college. Just five minutes of aerobic exercise a day can lighten your mood because it releases endorphins that help inhibit the symptoms of anxiety. I love to find a picture of some random fitness model (totally not creepy) that I want to look more like and use that as a goal, and this keeps me motivated when I think I can't do any more. This is my favorite solution to stress because you
4. A long, dramatic, and humorous Netflix series.
I almost put a good book, which works too if that's more of your style, but I get tired of reading after I get done with school work. It's time to throw the covers over your head and get into a healthy Netflix series addiction. This is the time where you don't have to think about school or any other problems for a few minutes, just let seven dollars a month distract you from the outside world. My only advice is, do not abuse this time because it will catch up to you. A few minutes a day to catch your breath or to put you to sleep is all you need. Let it take the place of any drama or anxiety in your life and just laugh. If you haven't indulged in an episode of "Friends," you are missing out!
5. Music.
Every time I leave for class without my earbuds I automatically get upset with myself. Music can improve your mood, enhance a workout or study session, reduce depression and anxiety, and eliminate chronic pain. Make yourself a playlist to listen to for each activity of the day, and see how much it changes you
6. Use a planner for everything.
Whether you've used a planner in the past or not, college is the time to whip it out. Nothing is more stressful then checking Blackboard and realizing all the assignments you forgot about are due in a short amount of time. Cramming is death. Do yourself a favor and write everything down, even if it's just meeting a friend for lunch. I promise you won't forget as much and it will help your study and social skills throughout the rest of the year. Time management is key and the planner will help you develop that skill.
7. Surround yourself with friends, people with similar interests, and people who push you to be a better version of yourself.
We've all had those unsupportive friends that are only there to copy notes, gossip, or made you feel insignificant. Drop them. College is about building your strongest friend group, the ones that will stick around for the long haul. You're going to need someone to go out with, someone to study with, someone to cry on, someone to go to church with, and just someone to finish that entire large pizza and gallon of ice cream to get over something. Keep a wide range of friends. It will give you a more diverse outlook of the kind of campus you attend. Lean on each other, work hard together, make good memories, and succeed side by side. There's no better feeling.
