How can you improve your mental wellness?
Caring for your body is usually the first thing that comes to mind when considering well-being. However, other areas can be just as important. Today I want to mention some strategies college students use to improve their mental health and emotional wellness during the often stressful time of early adulthood. Here are just a few mental health activities.
Have a guilt-free bathroom break.
A bathroom is a magical place. It’s the one place on campus where you can’t be bothered by your roommate or your professor. You can also avoid these people for 10 minutes, and that space is crucial for mental health.
So skip class if you need more than five minutes alone (or ask a friend to cover). And don’t feel guilty about taking the occasional bathroom break; you’ll get more work done when you’re less stressed!
Find a space to be alone.
College is an insane time; sometimes, finding space for yourself in the madness is hard. You may find your mind constantly racing with thoughts about grades, friendships, and other people’s expectations.
So the solution is simple: Find a place where you can relax and be yourself without being judged by anyone other than yourself.
If you don’t have friends who understand your need, reach out to peers who have gone through similar experiences as you—they may not be able to empathize fully. Still, they’ll certainly understand what it’s like to keep up with everyone else’s demands on your time and energy.
Sometimes, the library isn’t the best place to study.
The library can be a fantastic place to study, but it’s not always the best. For example, the library can be loud and busy, making it difficult for students to concentrate. Students also can’t concentrate in a dark, isolated environment with no stimuli around them.
It’s also essential for students to see what they’re reading or writing so they don’t miss any critical information, so good lighting is essential.
Finally, many distractions in the library include people talking or texting loudly on their phones while you’re trying to focus. So, have an alternate place you can study just in case.
Make time for friends.
It can be hard to make time for friends when you’re busy with school, work, and extracurricular activities. However, taking time out of your week to spend an hour or two with people you care about is essential.
You don’t have to do much—sitting down and talking over coffee is good enough. If you don’t see your friends often enough, they might feel like second-class citizens in your life and stop being as supportive as they could be. Plus, it’s a great way to recharge!
Take time to appreciate your surroundings.
The next time you’re feeling down, why not take time to appreciate your surroundings?
Go outside and take a walk around campus or downtown. Look at nature — the trees, the flowers, and the people! Ask yourself what makes these things beautiful and unique to you (the answer may be different for everyone) and why you are grateful for them.
Make time for yourself.
There’s nothing better than taking some time to do something you enjoy. Whether reading a book, cooking dinner, playing video games, or taking a bath with candles and music playing in the background. Practicing a little Self-care can help improve your emotional wellness.
Reward yourself for good grades and getting out of bed that day.
It can be easy to forget that it’s important to remind ourselves of the little victories in life. For example, when you are studying hard and putting in hours upon hours at the library, it is easy to forget why you’re doing this work in the first place.
Maybe you have a test coming up, or maybe you need some motivation to keep going. Either way, here are some rewards for when you achieve something:
- Treat yourself to an ice cream cone (or whatever else makes sense).
- Watch a show on Netflix that isn’t homework-related (or get recommendations from friends!).
- Spend time with friends and family who support your work ethic—or new people they introduced into their lives!
Use positive self-talk to help you through stressful situations.
Thinking positively when stressed can be challenging, but positive self-talk is essential to emotional wellness. This practice involves choosing to use certain words that positively describe yourself.
For example, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, saying things like “I am strong” or “I can handle this might be helpful.”
Positive self-talk helps people feel more confident and in control during challenging times by providing reminders about their strengths and abilities, which can help boost their mood and improve overall well-being.
Exercise, even if only for a few minutes at first.
Exercise is a great way to relieve stress, and it’s easy to do at almost any age. If you’re new to exercise, start with something simple like taking a walk around the block or doing some stretches. It’s okay if you don’t want to be super active—the important thing is that you’re exercising more than you did before!
If it helps, set up a routine for yourself.
For example: “I’m going for an hour-long walk every morning when I get up.” If this isn’t feasible due to scheduling conflicts or other factors, try making exercise part of your daily routine by doing something simple such as walking upstairs instead of using the elevator whenever possible.
Continue your Journey of Emotional Wellness.
I hope you have found these tips helpful and can start using them to improve your mental health. I know it’s hard to remember everything all at once, but think of these as a starting point for your journey toward self-care and wellness. Remember: whatever you do, keep on pushing forward! To find more emotional wellness activities check out our self-care and self-improvement categories.
