Follow these steps to live a happier, healthier lifestyle
It’s about a month into the school year, which means students are starting to feel the pressure of school. All of a sudden, tests are every day, homework piles up, money is dwindling and students are questioning whether they have picked the right major.
There’s no argument that it’s hard being a college student.
Although stress to put as much on your plate as possible and stay up long hours to get everything done can fuel your fire, your need for academic perfection is probably hurting more than helping.
According to USC’s Student Heath Service’s website, stress can lead to depression, sadness, forgetfulness, body tension, fatigue, risk for weight gain or loss, increased risk for illness and unhealthy or addicting behaviors. Stress also has different effects on each person, making managing it crucial in order to have a successful time in college. As much as your parents tell you to calm down, it doesn’t help, and taking a four hour nap to forget about all of the work you have won’t help either.
By actively attacking stress during the week instead of going through a roller coaster of anxiety-driven days followed by completely unproductive afternoons, you can manage everything you have to do without getting overwhelmed. Lucky for us, USC has a plethora of stress fighting options right on campus.
Here are some things you can do during this semester to get your mind and body under control.
1. Put down the burger: When you’ve been at Thomas Cooper Library all night, there’s nothing you want more than a Wendy’s stop on the way home to treat yourself. As amazing as that sounds, the foods you eat directly affect your brain function as well your mood. The healthier you eat, the happier you’ll be, the clearer your mind will be and the less stressed you will be. USC offers one-on-one dietitian services to not only help you pick the foods to eat, but teach you about how they work with your body, giving you the boost you need to ace your test.
2. Work it out: Have you ever been so angry, you punched and kicked your pillow until you felt better? Working out has this same effect. All of the built up anger and tension can easily melt away by working your muscles and clearing your mind. This doesn’t mean you need to be working out for 2 hours every day, but at least 20 minutes will do the trick. Try strolling the Riverwalk, taking a class at Strom Thurmond Wellness Center or working out with a friend for motivation.
3. Talk about it: Talking about your feelings can be the last thing you want to do after a long day, but saying it out loud or writing it down gets it out of your mind at least. The counseling center is open to anyone and is the perfect opportunity to get things off your chest as well as get advice specific to you.
4. Play with a puppy: Many students have experienced the joy of cuddling with a puppy or kitten in Russell House during finals week. So why not do this the whole year long? The Campus Wellness ”Keep Calm” campaign is now offering pet therapy once a month and before and after that date, Pet’s Inc. offers it close by. A puppy is going to kiss and cuddle no matter what your test grade was.
5. Take a moment: Every day, take some time, whether it’s ten minutes or an hour, to do something that makes you happy. This can be anything from getting a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, watching an episode of your favorite show, taking a power nap or watching cat videos on YouTube. No matter how busy you are, just do it.