I think it is safe to say we have all had those nights, when we just stare blankly at our lap top screens debating on whether to finish the assignment or drown our sorrows in a pint of our favorite Ben&Jerry's ice cream flavors, and watch the newest Netflix series. Life as a college student can be all sorts of things, causing us to feel all types of ways, but the bottom line is: IT'S HARD. We are caught in this time span where we are young enough to carelessly have fun, but old enough to take responsibility for our lives, and that can be exciting and equally as frightening. However, this is not the time for a mid-life-crisis. Although it may feel unbearable, or maybe even as if we have hit our "rock bottoms" but this is just the beginning and it is important to remember the following ten ways to survive our most discouraging moments:
1. TAKE A DEEP BREATHE
Breathe! Even though you are swimming in assignments, due dates, and personal life events, you are going to make all of those due dates, and preserve through life's personal struggles. It's important to have the ability to just step back from life when it all becomes too much to handle, and just breathe; life doesn't give us more than we can handle, just enough to bring us close to our breaking points to remind us how strong we actually are. So take a breathe, have some coffee/tea, refresh your mind, and start again with a positive attitude.
2. STAY ORGANIZED AND SET GOALS FOR THE WEEK
More times than not, college professors forget that their students are taking five other classes, playing a D1 sport, and working outside jobs, and assign enough homework to occupy us for the week! So, it's important to plan everything out accordingly throughout the day. Although it may seem a bit much if you aren't the "organized type". It will help relieve the stress you have while staring at your syllabus with bug eyes. It won't take much either. Simply go to a Walmart, Staples, ect. buy yourself a planner to bring with you to class to write down your assignments and their due dates. Then, buy, or even make, yourself a desk calendar for home. Write down all of your due dates accordingly, and any other notes you may need to get you through each week/month; this way you will always feel on track and know what you need to get accomplished and when.
3. TAKE CARE OF YOUR SELF! MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY
The demands of college do not just take over our minds but our bodies too; if our minds are feeling exhausted and discouraged, eventually our bodies will receive the message also. This process starts each morning. Choose to have a balanced healthy breakfast, something along the lines of: eggs, whole grain toast, fruits and veggies- depending on what you like to eat. The less sugar you put into your bodies in the morning the better, it will start your morning off well balanced and on a positive note, therefore it will be easier to continue your day with these types of eating habits. Next, you should exercise regularly. Now, I'm not saying you need to start counting calories or following a body building regime, working out isn't everyones cup of tea. However, participating in a Yoga class, taking a walk around campus, will do just as much for your mind as going for runs or other forms of exercise. This way your body is able to release endorphins and increase your dopamine (your body's happy chemical) levels- who doesn't want to improve their "happy chemical" when they have to take four examines this week?
4. MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR FRIENDS
It is important that while trying to stay motivated and engaged in your studies, you don't forget to make time for yourself and your friends. It is OK to take an hour break here and there to get lunch with your friends, do your nails, or even just take a nap! You do not need to over work yourself each and every day trying to get everything done perfectly. Sometimes, your brain needs that hour to relax in order to continue working effectively. You will feel more refreshed and thank yourself later when you aren't having a huge mental break down due to stress and lack of sleep.
5. DON'T BE SO SERIOUS ALL OF THE TIME
College tends to be the time period where a lot of us begin to mature and discover who we are as young adults. Along with this "growth" we tend to get caught up in our majors, our GPA, and where exactly we are headed in life. Which is all just extremely overwhelming. But, what we tend to forget is that this is also the prime time for us to live, be silly, and make mistakes that we can learn from four years from now when we are graduated, actually facing the REAL WORLD. Go to the frat parties ( responsibly), stay up past your normal "bed times", and most importantly LAUGH. Laugh with the people around you who you love. Enjoy these moments in life before we are too busy working, having families, being part of a bigger picture. This is the time of our lives to soak everything up, and to really enjoy what is in front of us. Don't push that aside, because ten years from now, you won't get those moments back.
6. DON'T LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF DOUBT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND
No matter how confident you may be, we all have, or will have, those moments where we just have absolutely no idea "what we are doing here"- wherever "here" may be-school, a major, ect. When you decided to attend college, whether you had a major in mind at the time or not, you had a bigger picture in mind, a life style you saw for yourself in the future. Don't lose sight of that future self, that is what gets you through those hard nights of studying, and it is the only way to ignore self doubt. Don't be fooled by those confident faces around you either. Everyone has self doubt at times, and everyone is just as scared and as frustrated as you are!
