Adjusting to College: Mental Wellness
- Christine
- Aug 31, 2015
- 3 min read
Adjusting to college is a challenge. It’s a whole new world. Classes are longer, schedules are more flexible, you have a lot more free time, but also a lot more work (in most cases. This really depends where you go to school and what your major is). But no matter where you are or what you are doing, it’s important to check in with yourself every now and then and see how you are doing.
As a person who always seems to be stressed about something, I understand that mental health is so important. Too much stress and you might just have a full-fledged meltdown. I know I have. Sometimes these are unavoidable, but other times, it’s all about taking a break and relaxing, free of stress. So in today’s rendition of my back-to-school series, I will offer you some of my tried-and-true tricks to maintaining mental health while dealing with your college course load and social life.
Keep a planner. By writing down what you have to do, you avoid the stress of trying to remember everything, and panicking that you may have forgotten something. Once you can see what you have to do in a day, you can prioritize and get things done.
Don’t wait until the last minute to do something. Even if it’ll only take ten minutes. Actually, that’s more reason to do it right away. If you know an assignment won’t take much time, get it done immediately, that way you don’t have to worry about it later. By doing assignments as they come, you also avoid a build-up of assignments that you have to struggle to get done in a short amount of time.
Find a study space. Some people like to do homework and study in their room, while others go to the library. Personally, my two favorite study spaces are outside (when the weather
permits) and this one conference room that has a large table, comfy chairs, and a whiteboard. It’s also secluded, so I can study in peace.
Take mental health days. Don’t skip class all the time, but every now and then, you will need a break. I personally take my mental health days on the weekend. My school takes attendance and it will hurt my grades too much not to go, but to each his own.
Find a hobby that calms you down. Go for walks, learn to knit, read a book, play video games, I don’t care. Find something that allows you to escape for a bit. It could really be as simple as watching TV. It’s important to take time throughout the day to do something you enjoy, even if you are insanely busy. I personally try to read a little but before bed every night as a way to unwind.
Spend time with friends. Treat yourself. Go to the mall, order pizza, or get pedicures. Laugh, have fun, let loose. Socializing is insanely important to mental health. Even if it’s calling a friend from back home and being on the phone for an hour or two, it helps because you can vent about your problems, catch up on each other’s lives, and laugh a little.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to maintain mental health. The biggest thing you can do to keep yourself healthy and relatively stress free is to find balance. Find balance between your schoolwork and your activities, between spending time studying and spending time with friends, and balance within yourself. Prioritize. Don’t forget to have fun. Cry when you need to. Then pick yourself up and get back to work. Just know your limits and know your goals, and don’t let them out of your sight.
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