When you’re in the middle of a hectic period of your life, be it education or work, it’s easy to feel as though the stress is a natural byproduct of that – with you having to accept that your mental health is going to take a hit. That’s not necessarily true, however, and the damage to your mental health could be something that has a much longer-lasting impact than the work that you’re prioritizing. Furthermore, taking a more proactive approach to your mental health might help you to develop a healthier and more productive attitude towards your work.
Be Still
It’s natural to get so caught up in the endless rush during these times. Even if your focus at any given point is downtime, it might be about maximizing that downtime – fixating on how you’re spending it to the point where you’re filling it up with activities, constantly seeing friends, or playing games. At that point, it might feel as though time spent doing nothing is a waste of time – just restless anxiety about how you need to have fun now because work is right around the corner.
Try, though, taking an alternative approach. When you have time to yourself, try being still, breathing and focusing on your breath. Mindfulness can be an effective way of handling anxiety and dealing with mental health problems, but some people might be put off by the perceived effort that goes into something like meditation, even when it can be as simple as this.
Talk to Someone
It’s always worth understanding how beneficial it can be to talk to someone about what you’re going through – even if that’s just a casual chat with a friend. Expressing yourself this way can be a cathartic outlet, but it’s also valuable to consider professionals you can talk to for a potentially beneficial result.
Some people might be of the opinion that their own mental health situation isn’t severe enough to consider counseling or therapy, but this could be both a misconception of these services and of how beneficial help might be to you. Alternatively, if neither of those kinds of services interest you, you could also investigate life coaching for college students if your anxiety is stemming from uncertainty about where to go next.
Physical Health Considerations
While it can be difficult amidst your busy schedule to find even more time for exercise, taking care of your physical health can hugely impact your mental health. This doesn’t mean that you have to join a gym or do anything that you might consider an extreme lifestyle shift, but getting a good or moderate amount of physical exercise, spending time outside, and eating well can all positively contribute to this change. Exercising and going outside can be done simultaneously either in the form of natural hikes or going for runs in closer areas. Eating well is something that might require trying some new recipes, but it could also have the benefit of saving you money in the long run.
