Every year around this time the shininess of the new semester starts to wear off as college students are beatdown with papers, projects, presentations and midterms. We've come to a stretch of 1-2 weeks left before Spring Break and everyone's mind is on the beach instead of in class where it needs to be. It's easy to start feeling that your education isn't valuable and for your mental, physical and emotional health to start suffering. Here are some things that all college students can be doing to practice self-love during a difficult point in the semester (and always)
1. Start your morning with a cup of coffee or hot tea
Something warm with a little jolt of caffeine is a great way to get your day going. Black coffee and tea also have surprising health benefits.
2. Watch your eating habits
When people become stressed the tend to either over or under eat. I notice myself doing the latter, especially when I feel busy and overwhelmed. Pay attention to your eating habits and notice when you're doing something unhealthy and then work towards changing it. Whether that means keeping snacks out of the room that you study in or penciling in mealtimes on busy days, find small ways to correct the ways that you're nourishing your body.
3. Light a candle or burn some incense
Certain scents affect our brain to cause us to have more energy, be more relaxed, sleep more easily, etc and candles and incense also encourage us to breathe deeply. They also smell yummy which is just an added benefit.
4. Find a form of exercise you enjoy to relieve stress
Aside from it being healthy to exercise regularly, it's also a great stress reliever. Whether you prefer yoga, running, biking, swimming or lifting weights. Find some form of exercise that you can turn to when you need to blow off some steam.
5. Find a form of art you enjoy to relieve stress
Similarly to exercise it's great to have some form of art to engage in when you want to relax. Whether you choose to draw, paint, color, dance, sing, play an instrument or do something else, having a creative outlet is essential to mental well-being.
6. Find a band that gets you in the right mindset to study
I prefer studying to Twenty One Pilots or Fleetwood Mac but any band that gets you focused before classes or working on homework will do.
7. Find a study spot
Everyone studies differently so figure out what kind of environment you need to be in (quiet, loud, by yourself, with friends, with music playing, etc.) and find something that meets your needs (library, Starbucks, church student center, the quad, your dorm room, etc.) and then stick to it.
8. Don't forget about your family and friends
They care a lot about you. Even when you feel so overwhelmed with homework, tests, work and other activities, taking a short phone call with your dad or a wine night with your friends can be all that you need to get back in the game with your studies and work.
9. Listen to your body
As college students, we like to think that we're invincible. We all have a breaking point and your body will let you know. For me, this usually comes in the form of sleeping through 17 alarms even though I kept my phone next to me, on full volume all night. When your body hits the "No more school/work, only sleep" point then you should try to dial it back a notch. It's hard to make your life less crazy and overwhelming but if you hit a point where you can barely function you need to figure something else out. Staying in tune with your body is crucial.
10. Do something that expands your mind...outside of assignments
As a college student, when was the last time you curled up in your bed with a good book that wasn't assigned reading for a class? For a lot of people, they probably haven't done that since the last vacation. Invest in yourself and your education. Read, write, watch podcasts and Ted Talks, find ways to enhance your learning outside of what you're doing for your professor already.
11. Call on God
Making time for your relationship with God is important for anyone, in any situation, but when you're struggling through a tough point in a semester leaving time to meditate on a Bible verse and spend time in prayer is imperative. Find a good friend group with the same religious-base as you and encourage each other to spend time with God every day.
