The ultimate question of college: how to survive. One of the first steps of surviving is being mentally stable enough to make good decisions and stay healthy and happy. Grades are important, but your well-being should be the number one priority. This is something I'm still working on in my own life, but along the way I've picked up a few tricks that work for me when I'm feeling a little burnt out. My ambition sometimes conflicts with my well-being, physically and mentally, and I'm continuously working on finding a good balance.
1. Find your happy place, and make time for it.
If you're most relaxed and happy around friends, make sure you make time for them. If you draw energy from being alone, make time for yourself to relax and be in your element. This is vital. You will feel stronger and more confident in yourself when you make sure to allot time to unwind a little, to de-stress and forget about responsibilities, if only for a little while. Whether it's once a week or once a day, make sure you create time to do this - it doesn't seem like it would make a big difference, but it really does.
2. Tidy up your room regularly.
As my life gets busier and busier, I find myself throwing my stuff all over the place, making a bigger mess and making my bedroom, my space, chaotic. This chaos is not lost in my brain, which is more stressed out by a messier room. I find peace in cleaning my room every weekend when I can, because it represents to me a reset, a fresh start to a new week. It is also much more relaxing to walk into a clean bedroom than a messy one. Do your laundry, make your bed, and pick up the random items that find themselves where they shouldn't be.
3. Set up a workout routine, and stick to it.
I know it's hard to do this. I keep myself accountable by going with someone to the gym every other day, because it's annoying if one or the other of us doesn't want to go. It's more fun to go with someone, and it keeps you honest. It's harder to shrug off. The workout doesn't need to be terribly strenuous, nor terribly long. As long as you get moving, get your heart rate up, and make an effort, that's a good start. Ideally, you bulk up your workouts as you go on, but starting is the hardest part.
4. Get a good start on your homework over the weekend.
This will be a HUGE help, especially if you're like me, and your weeks are packed to the brim and by the time you get home you just want to sleep. If you get your homework for the week started, or even better, finished, by Monday, you will be in much better shape. Luckily, most professors put their assignments on the syllabus or online so you know what has to be done instead of waiting for an assignment in class. Get it done - you'll have a lot more time for afternoon naps and meeting up with friends during the week!!
5. Stay away from junk food.
The inclination in college on a college budget and with the sometimes questionable dining hall food is to stock up on Easy Mac and Ramen Noodles to eat instead. Don't do that. Instead, try to buy healthier options like bread and meat and cheese for sandwiches, for example, or yogurt, or soup. Allow yourself no more than one cheat food every time you go to the grocery market (or if you're hardcore, no cheats). Junk food may taste good in the moment, but it does not give you the energy you need to continue your day, and eating it a lot just isn't good for you. I'm not one to preach eating ultra-healthy because I am just as bad at this as you are, but I do consciously try to make slightly better choices than ramen noodles for lunch every day. It will also just make you feel better generally to eat a little healthier.
6. Know when to ask for help.
I cannot stress this enough - do not be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Unfortunately, many college students (and people generally) suffer from a multitude of issues including anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, and other mental illnesses that can hinder your performance, social interactions, and most importantly, health. Even if you don't have a mental illness (or aren't officially diagnosed), many schools have counseling services available on campus. If nothing else, talk to someone, be it a friend, parent, significant other, or mentor. You have people who love you and want to help you - take advantage of that. They are there for you. Ask for help when you need it - no one should have to bear the weight of their world on their shoulders.
