College is a significant transition in many people’s lives and can be difficult to navigate. It can present plenty of challenges, like difficult classes, homesickness, having a packed schedule, bad roommates, and the list goes on. All of these things can happen, weigh on your mental health, and turn college into a negative experience.
Thankfully, you can take steps to improve and maintain good mental health while in college. At Collegeboxes, we have provided some tips to help you prioritize your mental health and enjoy your college experience.
1. Reach Out
If you are struggling with poor mental health, do not be afraid to reach out to friends, family, or your school’s health center for help. Sharing your challenges and struggles with others can help provide emotional relief and different perspectives.
It also helps foster a feeling of connection while building a strong support network. Reaching out can help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation by offering social engagement and potential advice. This means you do not need to face your struggles alone; it can help you overcome your challenges knowing you have people to support you.
2. Improve Your Diet
It may be surprising, but having a healthy diet not only helps your physical health but your mental health as well. Eating well and staying hydrated can help you stay more energized and focused. Having enough energy for the day can make it easier to deal with stress and your busy schedule.
Collegeboxes understands it is difficult for a college student to try and eat healthy, but there is no need to completely change your diet. Supplementing a meal or two a day with something nutritious can stabilize your blood sugar, reducing mood swings and irritability. Sticking to a nutritious diet can help you see drastic changes in both your mood and energy, enhancing both your physical and mental state.
3. Get Exercise
Exercise has amazing benefits for not only your physical health but also your mental health too. Spending time doing physical activity can release endorphins, which can boost mood and reduce stress.
It is recommended that college students get exercise at least 3–4 times a week to help their mental health. With low time commitment, it is a great stress-relieving mechanism for difficult times as well. With so many benefits, try to make the campus recreation center a place you frequently visit.
4. Find a Community
Being in a group or having a sense of belonging within a community can be very beneficial for your mental health. Being a part of something bigger than yourself can help provide a sense of purpose, which can be vital to one’s mental well-being.
For many students, a community can be a club, a part of a staff, or even just a friend group. Joining these groups can help foster strong relationships and friendships that can heighten your college experience. College offers the perfect opportunity to build a community and make new social connections. So, get out there, join a club, take on a campus job, and start meeting new people.
5. Look at Your Sleep Schedule
Many college students get less than the recommended 8 hours because of late-night studying or socializing. But getting the appropriate amount of sleep is important to both your physical and mental health. Getting enough sleep every night can help you feel more focused and less stressed, leading to a better overall mental state.
Try to develop a sleep schedule that will work for you and do your best to stick with it. Consider reducing screen time and caffeine intake at night to help you get the sleep you need.
6. Create a Routine
Setting up a daily routine can immensely help your mental health in college. A daily routine can provide a roadmap for your day-to-day and improve your sense of purpose. It offers something to look forward to each day and creates a sense of accomplishment.
Establishing a routine will create more stability and consistency in your daily life. It can help make your life easier, as it is intuitive with time management and reducing your stress levels. With a strong routine, it can help instill long-term success and personal growth, helping you reach your goals and create a fulfilling lifestyle.
7. Make Time For Yourself
College offers so many things to do and be involved with, like classes, clubs, sports, and socializing with friends. This can make it hard to carve out time for yourself, but it is important to do so. Taking a break from academic or social pressure gives you an opportunity to recharge and relax.
Creating a healthy balance of work and leisure can prevent burnout from school and make it more enjoyable. Prioritizing self-care will help you maintain the energy you need to thrive in all aspects of college life.
8. Set Goals
While in college, it is always a good idea to set goals. These can be anything like getting an A in a class, going to the gym for a month, getting an internship, etc. Having goals will further your sense of purpose and accomplishment while in college. They can be long-term or short-term, but they will give you something to look forward to each day or semester.
An important part of goal-setting is to ensure the goal is achievable and measurable. You want to set a realistic goal to reduce frustration and fatigue from unattainable goals. Making it measurable will help you see your progress, make adjustments if needed, and celebrate the small victories along the way. Try to set a couple of goals for the semester; working towards and accomplishing them will result in healthier mental well-being.
9. Consider Mediation and Gratitude
One great practice that helps improve mental health is taking the time each day to express gratitude or meditate. Taking the time to think about the things you are thankful for can help shift your focus from stress to the more positive aspects of life. Take a moment every day to be grateful, or take a step back and breathe.
Together, these practices can reduce your levels of stress, improve your mood, and promote a sense of well-being. Incorporating these practices into your daily routine can provide a simple and easy way to support your mental health.
At college, a lot can be on your mind, so give yourself a mental break and leave the move to Collegeboxes. If you need summer storage, we’ve got you covered. Also, with our Ship to School service, you can make your move to college stress-free and easy.
Simply pack your items and belongings at home, schedule a pickup in your Collegeboxes account and FedEx will arrive to collect your items. They will be shipped to a U-Haul storage center near your school, and when you arrive, they will be delivered right to your room. It doesn’t get any easier than that, so take the time to schedule your stress-free move today at Collegeboxes.