By: Labina Tasfia, Staff Writer
With the third week of the semester coming to an end and the classes picking up the pace, I wanted to focus on healthy ways to manage stress. It’s common to be stressed out with homework and assignments. I have been super anxious about a two-minute speech for my communication class recently, so much so that I couldn’t focus on anything else (public speaking is not my forte if you couldn’t tell). I realized many of you are probably going through something similar, if not now then maybe in the future. So, I wanted to provide some tips to help, even if only a little, with managing stress levels and mental health. Here are some things that have helped me throughout the years to keep my mental health positive and the stress under control.
Set up clear boundaries. Boundaries are extremely important if you want to maintain mental health. You need to set up boundaries for yourself and those around you, not according to the person you wish to become in the future, but the person you are now at present. You need your friends and family, and most importantly yourself, to know who you are, what you are capable of at the moment, and what your goals are.
Set realistic goals. We all have things we want to accomplish in a day, but not all of them are realistic. That is why I recommend starting by making micro-goals, things you know you can accomplish today. After becoming more accustomed to following through with those micro-goals, start to make bigger goals. For example, what you want to accomplish in a week, then in a month and so on, but take it slow. If you can’t fulfil every single goal, don’t beat yourself up over it. Nothing is worth more than your happiness and mental health.
Plan out your day according to your goals. Planning out how you wish to go about your day can help motivate you. The plan doesn’t need to be precise, but it should give you a rough idea of what needs to be done by when. This way, you will be able to waste less time deciding what to do and have more time not only to work but also take breaks.
Always leave time for self-care. Taking care of your physical health is just as important as your grades. So, make self-care a priority. This doesn’t mean you need to force yourself to go to the gym almost every day. Taking time to do small things like brushing your hair, taking a hot shower (remember not to waste too much water though), and meditating at the end of a busy day can do wonders for your mental health and overall mood. If you go to sleep feeling relaxed, you can start your day feeling refreshed.
Practice gratitude. You deserve gratitude for all the hard work you do every day, and that is why you should always thank yourself at the end of the day for everything you accomplished. Being self-critical is good, but excessive criticism can do more harm than good. That is why instead of focusing too much on what you failed to do during the day, try to focus on what you did do. You can keep a notebook where you write down all the things you did that made you happy and the things you wish to improve in the future. Writing these down can have tremendous effect on not only your mental health but also your self-confidence.
These were some of the things that have helped me throughout the years, and I hope they help all of you too. Always remember, grades are important, but they aren’t worth sacrificing your mental health and well-being for. So, try to find a balance between the two that works best for you.