Mental Health Life Hacks for Students
TIPS AND TRICKS TO KEEP YOUR LIFE TOGETHER DURING SCHOOL
Tim Gouw / Unsplash
If you’re a college student, you’re probably in the rhythm of your spring semester.
At this point, you’re no stranger to days crammed with classes, long nights full of writing essays and studying for tests — maybe you even have a job or internship thrown somewhere in the mix. Are you starting to feel overwhelmed just reading this? Are there even enough hours in the day for all of that? Tack on homesickness and a college social life, it’s a wonder anyone makes it through those four years. It all ends up being the perfect storm for not-so-great mental health.
And guess what? Nearly everyone feels like that. Research shows that 80% of students feel overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a student, and 50% of students rated their mental health below average.
Here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be like that. If you’re drowning in the struggles of college, there are ways to help. You just need to know where to look! Try working in some of these life hacks into your routine to make your college experience more manageable.
Use resources on your campus
Colleges and universities are usually a bubble of helpful people and free resources. It’s a built-in community full of people that are just there to help you and make sure you succeed. Take advantage of all that your school has to offer while you can!
Find your school’s mental health services
Most schools have a counseling center or some sort of student mental health services. As a registered student, you can usually see somebody for free. There are very few other times in your life where services like this are readily available, so definitely make use of it. If there aren’t resources on campus, or it’s not what you’re looking for, campuses can provide a referral. You can also check out our resources on how to find a therapist with insurance and without.
Go to the Dean of Students Office
If your school doesn’t have mental health services, head to the Dean of Students’ office. The whole office is focused on giving students the programs and resources that can better student life. If you talk through what you’re stressed about or struggling with, they’ll be able to connect you to something or someone that can help you move forward. Take advantage of all the knowledge that they have.
Check out Disability Support Services
Depending on what you’re struggling with, there’s a chance that you can receive accommodations for it within your classes. It’s okay if you’re nervous about using something that sounds so serious, but there’s a very good chance that it can really help you. Disability support can help get you additional time for tests, an extension for papers, excused absences, or even early registration for classes.
Open communication with your professor
Keep your professor in the loop with what you’re going through. Send them an email or set up an in-person meeting if you feel like your mental health is affecting your performance in class. Professors may offer you some flexibility in due dates, or they can sit down and help you work through assignments. You only have to share what you’re comfortable with, but starting the conversation lets them know that you’re still invested in your classes — you just need a little extra support.
Lean on your friends
The beauty of college is that there’s an entire campus full of like-minded people, working through the same struggles that you are. There are so many student-run clubs or campus events, study groups, or peer mentoring that can provide a great space to commiserate about what you’re thinking and feeling. It’s a great reminder that just voicing your struggles can lift a huge weight. A lot of students have taken their mental health into their own hands and have started clubs that bring awareness, educate, and advocate for better mental health policies on campus.
Take a fun class
If you’re a full-time student, you may have the wiggle-room to take a class that’s just for pure enjoyment. This is your chance to take a pottery class, yoga, cooking-chemistry, Latin, whatever takes you out of your normal class routine and gets you excited. Throughout that class time, you can just enjoy yourself. It won’t make or break your GPA, and it may be a new passion or hobby. If you don’t have space in your schedule, check out your school’s health and wellness center. Usually, they offer Zumba or yoga classes just for fun – and completely free!
Practice some self-care
Yes, college can be super busy, and there’s a good chance you aren’t at the top of your self-care game. But who has time for that? You do. It’s all about making small, conscious decisions that make you feel better. Sometimes it takes a little rearranging in your schedule or the way that you’ve been doing things, but your mind will thank you in the long-run.
Get some sleep
Sleep eight hours a night and you’ll feel better. Easy, right? Well, that’s not realistic for most students. So the trick is figuring out how to get better sleep — even if it isn’t a full 7-8 hours. First off, try lowering the temperature at night (just check with your roommates first). Research shows that sleeping in a colder room leads to a deeper, more comfortable sleep. If you have some money left over in your budget, you can try a weighted blanket at night. Science shows that it helps with anxiety, stress, and insomnia. It’s also worth giving a meditation app a try. Apps like Headspace and Calm have sleep stories that guide you into a restful sleep. You can also pull up versions of them on Youtube for free.
Work in some healthy food
There’s nothing more tempting than a late-night Taco Bell run when you’re up studying. Throughout your school week, do your best to avoid all the unhealthy fast-food. You need food that’ll power your brain — it really will make a difference in your energy and focus. If you’re like most college students, looking for a Whole Food diet on a ramen budget, check out Imperfect Foods. They take all the food that’d normally be thrown out by supermarkets — because of imperfections — and they sell it at a discounted price. It’s all real, healthy food.
Skip the weekday partying
Alright, you’re in college — Wild Wednesday or Thirsty Thursday is probably nothing out of the ordinary for you. But before you decide to head out and party during the week, stop and think about how you’re going to feel in your classes the next day. It really does take a toll on your mental health and your ability to invest fully in your day. If you’re worried about your drinking habits, take a screening, and educate yourself on what addiction can look and feel like.
Take advantage of the time between classes
How often have you run across campus, just trying to get from one place to another? Next time, take advantage of that break. Use that walk between buildings to focus on your breath and really relax. Just by breathing in and out, you are helping your mental health more than you know.
Be honest with yourself
Have you ever had that feeling where you have too much to do, you get completely overwhelmed, and you end up doing nothing? Yep, that’s normal. It’s okay to not know where to even start. If you have a busy day or a busy week coming up, break things down a bit.
Figure out your priorities
Think about the things that you need to accomplish in order to feel ok, and how much time you can spend on it during your day. It may seem like a waste of precious time to break your day down like that, but it can alleviate some of your stress to know you have a designated time to work on each thing. It puts everything into perspective again, rather than just a tornado of work. If you’re struggling with how to prioritize things, check in with an academic counselor on your campus. They can offer a lot of support and be a great person to talk through these things with.
Carve out time just for you
So maybe you start to prioritize things in your life, but have you prioritized yourself? If you haven’t taken any time for yourself, carve out some time that’s just for you. Whether you take fifteen minutes for yourself every single day, or you have one full night a week to do whatever you want and need to do. We’re not saying shirk your responsibilities, but remember that it’s ok to put yourself first. You won’t be able to take care of your to-do list if you aren’t taking care of yourself.
Recognize what you’re feeling
A small dose of anxiety and stress is completely normal in college — no matter what you do. But sometimes, your mental health may need more attention than you’re giving it. If you have anxiety about going to class, you’ve lost interest in your schoolwork, or your sleeping and eating patterns are off, it could be a mental health condition.
If you’re concerned that what you’re feeling has moved past just student-related stress and something more serious, take a mental health screen. It’s a fantastic (and free) check-up for your mental health. Based on your results, you have a jumping-off point for what resources you do need moving forward.
Find help when you need it
If you’re in crisis, don’t wait. Your safety needs to be your first priority. Call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or text IDM to 741741 to reach a trained Crisis Counselor at Crisis Text Line. If you are at risk of hurting yourself or others, call 911 immediately.
—
Your college experience will be something you remember for the rest of your life. It may also be one of the busiest times in your life too. These life hacks can help you make the most out of school while staying as mentally healthy as you can. You can do this! And only a few more months left in the semester, right?