It's no secret that life can get more than a little crazy, and for some people, it can take almost everything out of you. For those most vulnerable, teenagers and college students, this time of year can be the most stressful time of year.
With returning to school comes a whole lot of stress. There's settling back into your new environment, spending at least three minutes looking for that one pasta pot you bought at IKEA, catching up with roommates and getting used to new ones, and that's just your living situation. That list doesn't even include that little thing called "school" that you're there for. Needless to say, it gets stressful.
One of the most important things to do when you have a to do list that is fourteen miles long is to keep going. If you don't keep calm, you won't be able to keep going. Stress will take down your immune system, thus taking you down with it. You won't be able to do any of the things on your list if you're laying in bed with the virus that's sweeping through the dorms this week.
As college students, we're all concerned about our physical health. Maybe not our health per se, but more "I won't be able to fit in those shorts for the frat party this weekend if I don't skip the pizza bar and hit up the salad bar this afternoon, and a trip to the gym wouldn't hurt either." Yes, our physical health is important. That goes without saying. But our mental and emotional health are just as important as our physical health, and they both have a large impact on our physical health, making them a key component in making sure that everything goes well physically.
Even when things get crazy this year, make sure that you keep your emotional and mental health in check as well. Just as you go to a doctor for your physical health, don't be afraid to go to a professional for your mental health, even if it's just to vent for a little while. Make sure that in the midst of your studying, you take a little bit of time to rest and relax your brain. Pull as few all nighters as possible. Schedule your studying so that you don't have to pull any if at all possible. Go for a lap around campus with your roommate and just talk about your day. Lay in your bed and listen to some of your favorite songs.
There are so many things that you can o to keep your mental health at the forefront of your mind this year along with your mental health. Some of them are even more painless than going to the salad line and rejecting another piece of that delicious pizza.
