Although it is an exciting time for many students, college can also introduce struggles including social pressures to conform or try alcohol and other drugs, challenges in achieving a work-life balance syndrome, and poor sleep.
Students in college may also be feeling disconnected from their family and friends back home when they meet new people, ideas, and new life experiences.
These changes put students in college at risk of developing mental health issues which includes depression and anxiety. Stress in the classroom can exacerbate existing mental health conditions.
7 Tips for Staying healthy in college
Although the transition to college can be difficult for some students, they eventually adjust to their new surroundings. As a campus mental health service provider, I’ve collected seven suggestions to help you navigate smoothly to college and maintain your balance and wellbeing throughout your time as an undergraduate.
1. Make sure you get enough rest
It’s common to feel that there’s not enough time in the day for college students to complete all they want to be doing, whether it’s attending classes, doing research and socializing, working on sports or taking part in extracurricular activities. In this environment of constant work, sleep can be what first needs to go.
In college, it’s practically an act of honour for students to put on an all-nighter.Read more https://www.psychreg.org/ways-maintain-mental-health-while-college/ At website Articles However, at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what amazing it may be or how many more hours you can spend studying by staying up all night — having enough sleep is essential for your health and well-being which includes your grade.
The most effective way to enhance the quality of your sleep is to adopt better hygiene at night. Here are some helpful tips to help get to sleep better:
- Wake up and go to sleep. up at the same time every day
- Don’t drink caffeine too late at night
- Don’t nap during the course of the day.
- Use the bed only for sleeping
2. Exercise Regularly
Exercise can aid in improving your sleep and increase your overall fitness. The attitudes of students towards exercise may be different. Some exercise to ease stress and prioritize fitting it in , even when working, while others tend to let it be just one thing to disappear when they begin feeling overwhelmed.
If you fall into the first group, ensure that you’re exercising as a healthy way to cope and aren’t overdoing it enough to harm yourself or losing excessive weight.
If you belong to the second category I’d suggest finding ways to include exercise into your daily routine even if it’s an hour-long walk around campus.
3. Eat a Balanced Diet
A healthy diet in college can be a challenge when you rely on dining halls rather than home-cooked meals, or if your budget is limiting your choices for food. In the Center for Young Women’s Health and Nutritious Life offers helpful information on how to evaluate your food choices.
One of the most important aspects to eating well is to be aware that because of different study hours and the schedule of classes, you might get hungry at seemingly random moments. Consider carrying nutritious snacks in your bag for example, carrots bananas and nuts, dried fruits, dried nuts, and chip kale.
College is a stressful time for those suffering from having an eating disorder. This is because the choices you make about what you eat, binge-eating, or purging is often linked to control and self-esteem. If you’re stressed out about classes, it’s possible to feel out of control and feel unworthy of yourself.
If you’re beginning to notice that you’ve been engaging in unhealthy patterns of behavior, either old or new, set up an appointment to talk with your nutritionist, mental health provider, or primary care doctor in your student health clinic immediately.
4. Set aside time for self-care
It’s easy to not take care of yourself while in college. Whatever your schedule you might be you have to be able that you can schedule time to engage in what you like, or can relax you. Some may enjoy getting massages, seeing movies, or engaging in a hobby. Some may enjoy yoga or trying mindfulness.
Students will greatly benefit from focusing on the present and now, particularly when anxious or stressed. Try a meditation app to sharpen your mindfulness.
5. Be aware of the potential dangers of substance Utilization
Students at college often feel pressure to try drugs and alcohol. This is especially true considering the widespread consumption of alcohol on campus, the changing attitudes towards marijuana and the prevalence of vaping.
It’s important that students be aware of the health risks associated by drug use. It is essential to be making informed, rather than uninformed, socially-motivated decisions.
As an example, though many students might believe that marijuana is safe However, the drug is actually carrying several risks, especially with regard to mental health. Be sure to keep a close eye on your habits, including the frequency with which you consume drugs or consume alcohol.
It’s not a bad idea to enjoy a night out with friends and to look at other options to hang around with friends that don’t have alcohol or drugs involved.
6. Value Sexual Health and Safety
Sexual health is a key aspect of overall health. Students need to practice safe sexual relations and learn about the various ways to protect themselves and control their birth. They must also understand how to obtain STD screenings at their university health center.
Furthermore, students need to know how to discuss consent and security for intimate relationship. Unfortunately, sexual assault remains a common problem on campuses of colleges.
Some schools offer bystander training programs, which show students how to act if they see a violent incident or assault. These programs also instruct students how to report incidents on campus , as well as the options for mental health treatment for people who have experienced trauma.
7. Becoming Health Literate
One of college students’ biggest hurdles is learning how to take responsibility for themselves. In other words, you should be able to do the following:
- Online doctor appointments as well as by phone in person
- Discussing health conditions and treatment options
- Utilizing the basic health vocabulary
- Asking doctors questions
- Doing refills and taking medication
Ideally, students should talk about their health with parents/guardians before they leave for college particularly if they’re taking medication or have a chronic illness. However, even students who aren’t suffering from health issues might benefit from this talk.
Know Your Mental Health Status and How to seek Help
Mental health problems are debilitating. They may make students confront difficulties in their academic and social lives. Here are some advice that can assist yourself and your peers.
Be aware of the signs and symptoms of Mental Health Disorders
The symptoms of a mental problem include changes in sleeping and eating habits, as well as changes in behavior, like engaging in risky activities or refusing to be social. It is also possible to notice shifts in mood and/or speech, such as speaking really quickly or having trouble telling a coherent story.
When you begin to notice changes in the way you feel, it’s a great idea to track your mood using a worksheet or an application. If your mood is continuously changing or interferes with your normal life, you should make an appointment with a mental health specialist.
