How do you maintain Mental and Physical Health in the College
Though an exciting time for many students, college can also be a source of stress, including social pressures to conform or experiment with the use of alcohol or drugs, difficulty working-life balance, impostor syndrome, and a lack of sleep.
Students in college may also be in a state of disconnection from their family and friends back home when they meet new people, values, and experiences in life.
All these changes put students in college at risk of developing mental health issues like depression or anxiety. Stress at school can worsen existing mental health problems.
7 Tips to Stay Healthy in College
Although the transition from high school to college may be challenging however, the majority of students will eventually adapt to their new surroundings. As a campus mental health service provider, I’ve collected seven steps to help ease into college, and ensure balance and overall health during your time as students.
1. Make sure you get enough rest
It’s common to feel that there’s just not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything they would like to accomplish, whether that’s attending class, completing their studies while socializing, work on sports or participating in extracurriculars. In this constant activity, sleep is typically one of the things that must be eliminated.Join Us https://www.psychreg.org/ways-maintain-mental-health-while-college/ website
In college, it’s almost an act of pride to work all night. In the end, though it doesn’t matter you feel about it or how many additional hours you could be studying at night, having enough sleep is essential to your well-being and health in addition to your marks.
The best way to enhance your sleep is to develop better hygiene at night. Here are some useful tips to help get more restful sleep.
- Sleep and get up at the same times each day.
- Don’t drink caffeine too late at night
- Avoid naps during the day.
- Your bed should only be used for sleeping
2. Exercise Regularly
Exercise can help with better sleep and enhance your overall fitness. Students’ experiences with exercise may differ. A few exercise to reduce tension and will try to squeeze it in when they’re stressed, while some let it be something they’re first to fall off the list when they begin to feel overwhelmed.
If you’re a member of the first group, ensure that you’re exercising as a safe coping strategy and that you’re avoiding overexercising at a point where you’re hurting yourself or losing excessive weight.
If you fall into the latter group I would suggest you find ways to incorporate exercise into your everyday routine, even if it’s just an hour-long walk around campus.
3. Eat a Balanced Diet
It can be difficult to eat healthy while in college. be a challenge if you’re using dining halls instead of cooking home-cooked meals, or if your financial resources limit your food choices. There are many resources available to help you. Center for Young Women’s Health and Nutritious Life provides helpful information on how to evaluate your food options.
A key element to eating healthily is being aware of unorthodox study hours or class schedules, it is possible to have a craving at seemingly random moments. Be sure to carry nutritious snacks in your bag like carrots, bananas and nuts, dried fruits, dried nuts and Kale chips.
College can be a particularly challenging time for people suffering from having an eating disorder. It’s because limiting what you eat, binge eating, or purging is often linked to self-esteem and control. When you’re stressed with classes, it’s possible to feel out of control and feel unworthy of yourself.
If you notice you’ve been using unhealthy patterns of behavior, either fresh or old, make an appointment to see your nutritionist, mental health provider, or primary care doctor at your student health center right away.
4. Find time for yourself
It’s easy to forget to take care of your health in college. No matter how busy you are You must be able ways to block out time to do something that you like or makes you feel relaxed. Some may enjoy getting massages, seeing movies, or engaging in a hobby. Others may prefer doing yoga or exercising mindfulness.
Students will greatly benefit from focusing on the here and now, especially in times of stress or anxiety. You might want to consider using a meditation application to hone your mindfulness skills.
5. Recognize the Risks of Substance Usage
College students are frequently compelled to play with drugs and alcohol. This is especially so due to the widespread consumption of alcohol at college campuses, society’s shifting attitudes towards marijuana as well as the increasing popularity of vaping.
It’s important for students to recognize the health risks that come to the use of illicit drugs. At the end of the day, you need to be making educated, not socially determined, decisions.
For example, even though students may believe marijuana is harmless however, the drug has numerous risks, especially in terms of mental health. You should closely monitor your behaviors, including how often you drink alcohol and/or consume alcohol.
It’s important to meet at parties outside and search for alternatives to hanging around with friends that don’t involve alcohol or drugs.
6. The importance of Sexual Health and Safety
The health of sexual partners is a vital aspect of overall wellbeing. Students should make sure they are practicing safe sexual behavior and know the various ways to protect themselves and control their birth. It is also important to know how to obtain STD tests at their college health center.
Furthermore, students must be aware how to handle consent and security for intimate relationship. Sexual assault is the norm on campuses of colleges.
Certain schools have bystander education programmes, which teach students how they can act if they see a violent attack or crime. These programs can also teach students about the reporting procedures at the campus, and also mental health treatment options to those who’ve suffered trauma.
7. Develop Health Literate
One of the college students’ greatest obstacles is learning to take control of their health. This means that it is important to be comfortable with these things:
- Making doctor appointments online through phone or online and in person
- The discussion of health conditions and possible treatments
- Utilizing basic health-related vocabulary
- Asking doctors questions
- Preparing and refilling your medications
Ideally, students should talk on health-related issues with the parents of their guardians or parents before they leave for college and especially if they’re in treatment or have a chronic illness. Even students who don’t have health issues will benefit from this discussion.
Learn more about mental health and how To Get Help
Mental health issues are often debilitating and cause students to face educational and social problems. Here are some advice that can assist you and your fellow students.
Be aware of the signs and symptoms of Mental Health conditions
The signs of a mental health illness include changes in sleeping patterns and eating patterns as well as the development of new behaviors such as engaging in risky actions or refusing to meet with friends. You might also notice changes in your mood and/or speechpatterns, such as talking very fast or struggling to tell an encapsulated story.
Should you experience any shifts in how you feel, it’s a great option to track your mood with a worksheet or an application. If your mood constantly changing or it’s affecting your daily life, book an appointment to see a mental health professional.