College isn't easy
Between the sea of homework you’re drowning in, the classes you have to attend 12+ hours a week, and the countless hours of studying you have to do, along with life outside of school – working a part-time or full-time job, staying active, spending time with friends, and so on – it can be extremely difficult to juggle everything.
In the pile of responsibilities you have to stay on top of, it can be easy to forget about prioritizing yourself and your health. Many students experience feelings of being overwhelmed, low motivation, lack of energy, anxiousness, and stress in their college years, which can make showing up and excelling academically hard.
So, how can you fix this? How can you manage and prevent these negative feelings from happening? It’s much easier than you may think, and we’re here to help.
Don't Let School Stop You from Being the Best Version of Yourself
Everyone always raves about having a degree and says that it is one of the most important things you can have in life to be successful. Having a high GPA makes you look good and gives you a higher chance of landing a job. Don’t forget extracurriculars, too; it shows you have a social life. Oh, and an internship; it gets you experience and looks great on a resume. So does volunteer work.
But nobody emphasizes the importance of taking care of yourself in the process. We seem to lose ourselves when we are building the path to our future. We are too busy stressing about setting our future selves up for success that we forget about taking care of our present selves.
How to Put Yourself First
Obtaining a degree can prepare you for a strong future, but if you aren’t taking care of yourself, you won’t be the best version of yourself when you make it there.
Not knowing how to prioritize your mental well-being can make it hard to complete tasks now and even harder in the future.
Here are some tips and tricks to manage and prevent those negative feelings that are dragging you down:
Break Down Tasks
Before we get into personal-life tips and tricks, it is important to begin with the root issue: schoolwork.
Oftentimes, it’s easy to procrastinate when you see a truckload of schoolwork and studying that needs to be done. When the deadlines are days away, you begin to cram all of your assignments within a short period of time, which causes you to become overwhelmed and stressed.
The best way to prevent this issue is to work on your projects, assignments, and studying in small increments.
The very first day you get your material, begin reading over it and working on it for a short amount of time; maybe 3o minutes. Every day after, or every other day (whatever works best for you), do the same thing for the same amount of time. Maybe increase the time you spend on the material if you want.
Regardless, starting to familiarize yourself with the content early on can not only help you remember it more easily, but also help you not procrastinate, become stressed, and then become burnt out.
Self-Care
This term is thrown around everywhere these days, but SERIOUSLY, it is very important to do. College students often forget about doing the things that make them happy because they are caught up in schoolwork.
Taking a break from school won’t lead to failure, and can even help you excel more. With a fresh mindset, you can tackle your schoolwork with sharp focus and a good attitude.
Set time apart for yourself. Dedicate time that fits best in your schedule to focus on yourself. It can be for an hour or two every day, or every other day, or maybe an entire day or two on the weekend.
Do what you love. Go for a walk, a run, or a hike. Spend time with your family and friends. Read a book outside with some fresh air. Or snuggled up in bed. Bake a sweet treat. Try a new cooking recipe. Go to a farmers’ market. Try a new coffee shop, bakery, or restaurant. Go shopping. Clean your space to give you a fresh and spacious area to be in. Take an everything shower and put on a new face mask while you watch your favorite show.
There are so many things you can do. Whether it’s something that requires high effort, medium effort, or no effort at all. This time is all about you. You are in control of your time and doing what helps you recharge the most effectively.
Don't Forget About Your Health
Yes, your health plays a big factor in your mental well-being. College students typically eat on a budget, and healthy foods can be expensive. It isn’t realistic to completely change your diet, but moderately incorporating fruits, vegetables, protein, etc., in your meals is a great way to get nutrients in your body. Healthy foods can give you a great amount of energy that will help you knock out some schoolwork and get you through your days of class.
Speaking of energy: cut back on the energy drinks. It is easy to chug a Redbull, an Alani Nu, a Celsius, or whatever it may be. Drinking one a day is completely okay, but more than 400 mg of caffeine a day can be harmful to your body.
Get 8 hours of sleep. We hear it all the time, but adequate sleep will help you recharge and give your body more energy.
Lastly, drink water. We know you have a collection of Stanley’s and Owala’s. Fill ’em up and put them to good use!
Talk to a Professional
There is a lot of stigma around counseling that can make seeking professional help hard. We understand. It can be scary or intimidating to reach out for help. However, it is extremely helpful to have professional guidance to understand and manage your feelings and struggles.
The Family Tree is a great place to begin. Under our staff page, you can look through our list of counselors and see which one may best fit you.
Every session is centered around you and your time. Our counselors listen to your concerns and needs and tailor sessions well-suited for you. We offer virtual and in-person sessions from 8 A.M.- 8 P.M on Monday-Thursday, and 8 A.M.-12 P.M on Friday that can fit easily into your busy schedule.
Everything is in your control. We accommodate your schedule and what makes you comfortable. Whenever you feel ready, we are here.
To reach out to our office, you can call (337) 981-2180 or fill out the form below, and we will contact you as soon as possible. Include your preferred method of contact in the message box and any additional information and questions you may have.