Mental health tips

College is so hard, and it can really take a toll on your mental health. There are definitely times when college gets to me, I want to drop out, and I am just mentally drained - I feel like all college students feel this way at one point or another. Throughout my college career, I have found some tips I use to try and avoid those feelings and to keep my mental health in check.

The first thing I do when I’m feeling overwhelmed with assignments is to take breaks when I feel I need them or between each assignment I’m working on. Taking a step back from work for a little bit gives me the time I need to clear my head and helps my mental health. I find the best way to take a break for me is to get outside. Taking a walk or even just stepping outside for a few minutes will give you the reset you need.

My favorite thing to do when I am feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or mentally drained is go to the beach. Luckily, I live about five minutes away from the beach so a quick fifteen-minute walk or sitting on the beach always improves my mental health, helps me relax, and takes my mind away from the stress of college. Another thing I like to do when taking a break is to go on a quick drive. Listening to music and driving around for twenty minutes when I am feeling overwhelmed always seems to help. Find something that you enjoy and do that when you feel you need a break.

Finding time for yourself in college can be challenging and this is one of the big things I find that leaves my mental health feeling poor. Sometimes taking care of yourself is the last thing on your mind during certain times in the semester, but we need to remember how important it is to care for ourselves to keep our mental health in check. Find an hour a day to focus on something you want to do that does revolve around school. I like to try and get all of my schoolwork finished by 7:00 (although this does not happen very often) so I can give myself the rest of the night to relax and not think about school or assignments. Watching a show or movie is always something that helps me take my mind away from all of the school pressures.

Talking to your friends about your mental health is also something that can be extremely helpful. When I first felt the stress of college, I didn't want to talk to my friends about it because I thought I was the only one feeling the way I did. This is far from the truth, all of my friends and almost everyone in college have had their mental health impacted because of school. They are going through it too so don’t be scared to talk to them about your feelings and what you need to make yourself feel better. Hanging out with my roommates and friends is the best part of my day because it allows us to help each other through our problems, take our minds off work, and just chill.

We need to remember that taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health. I know that sometimes it feels like there is just no time for ourselves and we need to devote all of our time to school, but that is how we end up burnt out and our mental health gets worse. So take that time for yourself and remember how important it is to take care of your mental health!