This article provides comprehensive mental health tips for college students, highlighting the importance of self-care, kindness, good habits, and avoiding detrimental ones. Also, we are discovering beneficial podcasts that can be useful for students.
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Key Takeaways:
- Prioritizing kindness and self-awareness is crucial for maintaining mental health in college, as it fosters resilience and balance in students’ turbulent lives.
- Avoiding bad habits and embracing healthier alternatives is vital for combating stress, anxiety, and depression prevalent due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Regular self-care, comprising balanced eating, sufficient sleep, and indulging in loved activities, is pivotal in ensuring mental well-being during college.
In the dynamic college life, a student posed the question in the Reddit community asking, “What’s the greatest mental health tip you’ve gotten?” This deeply resonated with many. The question is still a hot topic for discussion because the transitional phase of college is often overwhelmed by growing responsibilities, academic pressures, and new social dynamics, making mental health a big concern for students.
Understanding how important this discussion is to everyone’s mental health, we at AcademicHelp have carefully put together a guide. It combines helpful advice, thoughtful insights, and supportive resources to help you get through the often tough journey of college life with strength and balance.
Prioritize kindness and self-awareness
When you’re in college, you go through a lot of emotions and thoughts, especially when times are tough. Starting to understand yourself and learning to be kind is really important during this time. One simple way to start this journey is to take a moment to be still and take a deep breath. This helps to calm your thoughts and feelings. This isn’t just a small thing; it actually helps to bring peace and tells our body that everything is safe, reducing stress and worry.
Drawing insights from the Reddit community, students emphatically share,
“Never evaluate your life when you’re tired.”
Nighttime can make our worries feel really big and hard to overcome. But when the day comes, things often seem clearer, and we find solutions that make those worries go away. A lot of people learn to be kind to themselves when they feel like this, giving themselves comfort and reassurance.
“I won’t be able to actually figure this out right now and will only make it worse because I’m tired, so I will think of it tomorrow.”
Taking little breaks to do things you enjoy, like listening to a great song or doing a fun activity, can really lift your spirits. It’s important to pay attention to how you’re feeling and think about how those feelings are affecting you. A lot of students agree that being kind to yourself is really important. We should accept reality but also be gentle and kind to ourselves, remembering that hard times won’t last forever. Joining in on mental health activities at school or around town can be a real help, giving comfort and understanding to those dealing with tough thoughts and feelings. It’s all about making sure our minds and bodies are getting along well and that the things we tell ourselves are nice and encouraging, not mean and judgmental. In college, making kindness and self-awareness a priority can help us become strong and balanced, leading to a happier, healthier life.
Avoid bad habits
Creating good habits is a part of the game, but it’s equally crucial to keep a lid on developing detrimental ones like overindulging in alcohol or abusing substances. The rise in stress, anxiety, and depression due to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has health experts on their toes, as more people are turning to such substances to sail through their emotional tides. Such unhealthy crutches can send those already battling mental health conditions spiraling down further. So, it’s high time we keep substances at bay and embrace healthier alternatives to engage our senses.
Tatiana Sifri, a beacon of guidance from North Central College’s Dyson Wellness Center, shares a nugget of wisdom for students grappling with stress.
“Take a deep, soothing breath in, let it out gently, and let those shoulders fall. Feel the air around you, sense your body’s weight. This little moment of mindfulness is a golden key—it reassures your mind and body, eases your thoughts, and enhances your immunity. Little things can make a big splash. Introducing small changes like mindful breathing can become transformative stepping stones.”
Engaging our senses can be the silver bullet, offering the same chemical release as substances but in a wholesome way. Ignite your sense of smell with scented candles, let music be the food of love to your ears, and treat your eyes with some exercises. Explore varied and nutritious foods to delight your taste buds and stay conscious of the different textures around you to awaken your touch. These aren’t just things that fall into one’s lap; one has to carve out time to embrace them consciously.
Say Yes to good habits
Giving a thumbs-up to healthy habits is a crucial piece of advice for mental well-being, especially for students striving to maintain equilibrium in their lives. The mind-body connection is profound—just as our thoughts influence our physical state, our physical well-being can be a linchpin to a healthy mind. To gear up your mental wellness, don’t shy away from tweaking your routine—slip into bed a bit earlier, engage in a brisk walk, or embrace wellness activities available around your campus. A dash of regular exercise and a sprinkle of nutritious food can be the catalysts for maintaining a sound mind in a sound body amidst the whirlwind of student life.
Remember, building habits is not a solo journey. Loop in your friends and family virtually for that extra nudge and explore apps that can help you stay on the ball. Change might seem like a tall order, but sometimes, it’s the smallest step that can create the ripple effect of positive transformations. As shared by students in the Reddit community, every little step counts in building habits. One student shared their views in the Reddit community,
“I keep a checklist of to-dos and tick them off once done. If I achieve something unplanned, I jot it down and tick it off too. Every stride, no matter how small, is progress, and once the habit wheels are in motion, it demands less and less effort to keep them rolling.”
So, step up, make subtle, balanced choices, and watch the dominoes of good habits fall into place, fostering overall well-being.
Take time for self-care
Taking time for self-care is pivotal, especially amidst the whirlwind of college life. It’s like an anchor, helping maintain mental balance when everything seems to be in a spin. Students from the Reddit community emphasize:
“Do not be too hard on yourself, but be kind to yourself. You don’t have to look tip top every day, but you deserve basic health and hygiene. You can skip a shower today, but you should shower tomorrow.”
Indeed, it’s about allowing oneself to enjoy what one loves, whether it’s delving into arts and crafts, being absorbed in a book, or enjoying nature walks—every minute spent in self-care counts in keeping stress at bay. And oh, let’s not forget the sweet embrace of sleep! It’s a golden ticket to mental well-being, crucial in deterring those all-too-familiar bouts of college stress and mental exhaustion. Avoiding those mythical all-nighters and getting a good six to eight hours of shut-eye is indeed non-negotiable for a healthy mind.
Furthermore, maintaining a balanced diet is essential. Falling into the trap of devouring pizza and junk food is all too easy, but as students share,
“You don’t have to eat healthy today, but consider eating an apple instead of a chocolate bar. You’re gonna go to the supermarket to get your depression meal anyway, might as well get some vegetables while you’re there.”
Making healthier, balanced choices is a stepping stone to overall well-being, preventing the adverse effects of unhealthy eating on one’s mental health. As wisely put by students in the Reddit community,
“On the topic of self-care: it should be a habit or a discipline, not an indulgence.”
It’s not about fleeting moments of escape but making regular, healthy habits a norm. After all, maintaining mental health should be as regular as brushing teeth and drinking water. So, amidst the hustle and bustle, let’s prioritize self-care, fostering a healthier, more balanced life.
Mental Health Podcasts to Listen to
Listening to self-help materials has proven to be quite effective. Podcasts are a treasure trove of insights and knowledge, especially on subjects like mental health. They can be your companions in solitude, helping you grasp various topics at your convenience, promoting well-being, and offering solace.
Inside Mental Health
Inside Mental Health by Psych Central is like a beacon of light in the intricate world of mental health. Hosted by Gabe Howard, it aims to demystify mental health, providing practical information that makes even the most complex issues digestible. The 30-minute episodes feature varied topics, making it a rich source of relatable insights. This award-winning podcast is available on multiple platforms, making mental health understanding accessible to all.
The Courageous Life
Delve into The Courageous Life podcast, where host Joshua Steinfeldt unravels ways to overcome fear and build courage. The weekly conversations cover a range of subjects in mental wellness, offering reflections on life, work, and love. It features interviews with experts, shedding light on overcoming challenges to lead a fulfilling life. It is both engaging and insightful, allowing listeners to navigate through their fears and uncertainties and is available on numerous platforms for easy access.
The Anxiety Coaches Podcast
The Anxiety Coaches Podcast with Gina Ryan is like a soothing balm for those grappling with anxiety. The twice-a-week episodes share insights and strategies to manage anxiety effectively. With a short, 20-minute format, it’s a convenient pick for quick drives or unwinding sessions. It has amassed over 12 million downloads, testifying to its impactful content and popularity. It’s a harbor for anyone seeking to understand and combat anxiety.
Therappuccino
Therappuccino, spearheaded by Bisma Anwar, is a diverse palette of mental health discussions. It envelops listeners with a broad spectrum of topics from promoting mental wellness to dealing with pandemic anxiety. It’s a refreshing sip of varied subjects, giving insights into promoting positive psychology and setting boundaries. The episodes are a delightful mix of relevance and variety, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to understand different facets of mental health.
Dear Therapists
Dear Therapists by Lori Gottlieb & Guy Winch is a fascinating journey through real-life stories and therapy sessions. It is like an open book of human experiences, offering a unique perspective into real-life situations and the therapeutic process. The podcast is interactive, allowing listeners to submit questions, and is like a window to varied human experiences and therapeutic insights, making it a captivating choice for those keen on understanding human psychology.
The Emotions Mentor
The Emotions Mentor with Rebecca Hintze is a weekly exploration of emotions and current social issues affecting mental health. It’s like a guide through the labyrinth of emotions, helping listeners navigate and control their feelings in this tumultuous world. The 40-minute episodes offer a profound understanding of societal impacts on mental health, making it a valuable resource for those wanting to delve deeper into their emotional well-being.
Finding the right mental health podcast is like finding your tribe; it can offer comfort, understanding, and a plethora of insights to help navigate through life’s ups and downs.
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