Health Upp Whether you’re a freshman or going into your senior year, college can knock the energy out of anyone pretty easily. Practicing self-care while attending college can do wonders for your physical, mental and emotional well-being. However, given your course load, you might think it near impossible to manage other things. Here is how you can practice self-care as you continue your college career.
Refrain from Pulling All-Nighters
Depending on how many classes you have, you might feel like you need to spend more time studying than relaxing or hanging out with friends. And while this is true, there is a limit. In addition to finding time for yourself, you also need to be organized. Instead of trying to squeeze all of your homework in at one time, you need to pace yourself.
Pulling an all-nighter every now and again isn’t a bad thing, but you should keep them to a bare minimum. It gives you the time and silence to focus on whatever you need to get done without distractions. However, if staying up all night to study or get work done becomes the norm, your grades may suffer. In fact, your overall health may take a hit as well.
Ideally, students should still achieve seven to nine hours of bedtime to prepare them for another school day. By pulling an all-nighter to complete your requirements or study for tomorrow’s examination, you’ll only find your mind unprepared and tired to face another set of discussions at school.
To improve your sleep after a tiring day, it’s worth investing in high-quality sleeping essentials, such as your mattress and pillows. Unknown to many students, their back or neck pain can be caused by sleeping on the wrong mattress and using the wrong pillow.
Thus, choose a mattress that feels like cloud nine to lie down on, while still providing enough support and cushioning to pressure points in your body, like the shoulders, hip, and knees. Also, it’s important to take your sleeping position into account as some mattress types suit a specific sleeping position best.
Moreover, buying the right pillows may seem simple, but with the overwhelming number of options to choose from, it’s challenging to find the best one that suits your sleeping needs and preferences. For a peaceful sleep and unique experience, you may try out a Japanese pillow that uses organic materials as the filling material to guarantee adjustability, head support, and improved air circulation.
Without enough sleep, you’ll feel sluggish and have little to no motivation. If the work feels like it’s too much, there’s nothing wrong with taking a step back and relaxing for a bit. Asking the teacher for assistance is also a great way to keep the work less stressful.
Start Exercising More
If you’re already feeling stressed from college life, exerting more physical effort seems like the last thing you should do. However, it’s exactly what you should be doing after a day of hard work. Exercising releases endorphins and dopamine to help relieve you of stress. These chemicals are release through any form of exercise such as jump rope, lifting light weights, hitting a punching bag and using a treadmill. Exercising also a number of benefits that keeps you vital and healthy including:
- Reducing your risk of a heart attack
- Minimizing the risk of cardiovascular disease
- Boosting your mental and emotional health
- Keeping your weight in check
- Relieving pain, stiffness and discomfort in your muscles and joints
Remember to go slow if you’re just starting to incorporate exercise into your routine. Going all out in the beginning can cause more harm than good. If you feel like things are too much and you don’t know what to do, your college can help you. It should offer telehealth for all students and direct you to guides on how you can manage your mental health on and off campus going forward.
During busier weeks, like taking your final exams or preparing for an important presentation, it may be challenging for you to manage your time and add a workout routine on your schedule. Simply walking or biking to school or home is already a good physical activity to try.
Don’t Ignore Campus Resources
There’s a reason why you’re introduce to every resource your college has to offer in the beginning. It’s to make your college experience fun and memorable. However, many students often find themselves in a mental and emotional slump because of how taxing college can be. Acquiring the required education for your career should never feel like a burden. It also shouldn’t cause your mental health to suffer either. If you feel overwhelmed, reach out to your professor, parent or student advisors for help.