Ways I De-Stress in College
College can be stressful, especially during a pandemic, from school work to other responsibilities you may have. It can be difficult to juggle so many things at once. I have made some healthy habits that help me de-stress in college. These are small habits you can add to your day and lifestyle that will make a change and be beneficial for you in the long run. I’ll share 3 of the healthy habits I have worked on into my daily schedule.
1. Go to sleep and wake up at the same times every day
This is probably the hardest one to follow on this list, especially for college students. It was hard for me to stick to the same time every day in the beginning. My sleep schedule was heavily determined by the classes I had the next day, whether I had an exam, and if I went out. However, managing your time can help you organize your work and work more efficiently so you don’t have to pull an all-nighter. On the days I had to pull an all-nighter, I would be sluggish the next day and sometimes even the day after the next day. Examining your schedule and maybe shifting things around may help you create a sleep schedule that works for you. This is one of my new year’s resolutions and I have already noticed such an improvement in my energy from having a consistent sleep schedule.
2. Drink plenty of water
It goes without saying that water is so important for your health. Tufts gives out free reusable water bottles and has refill stations in every building. This makes it a lot easier to keep me hydrated as I can fill my water bottle as I go about my day. It may be helpful to have some extra backup water in your room if you ever feel lazy to go down or up the stairs to go to the refill stations!
3. Take breaks
This is something I have been trying to do but have not done until this year. I used to think that taking breaks would mean losing precious time from studying or doing other things on my to-do list. However, taking breaks help you refocus and ground yourself. I find it helpful to take even 5-10 minute breaks to get water, eat a snack, and/or stretch. I think it helps you work more efficiently compared to just forcing yourself to continue working on the task.
These are my three habits for healthy living and de-stressing that anyone can do. It may be hard to stick to these in the beginning, but I find these methods useful and beneficial. You can set small goals at first to be able to stick to a schedule that works for you. De-stressing and self-care are especially important in college and you’ll prevent yourself from becoming burnt out. Hope these tips are helpful and try adding one or all of them into your schedule.