College and life in general can be stressful sometimes, so it’s hard to find ways to deal with this stress. Between school work, jobs, and extracurricular activities, it can be difficult to find time to focus on yourself or intervene that self-care time into your every day routine. I have personally struggled with this and it’s been hard to find ways to handle it, but through the years I’ve learned to cope and found a few ways to ease the trouble of being in a slump. I’ve found myself in places of my life where my mental health has made it difficult to complete work or even attend my classes and extracurriculars. These are some ways that have helped me dig myself out of that slump and hopefully, these can help you or someone you know with theirs.
having a good bev
This one doesn’t sound like much, but it truly helps. When you’re feeling down or struggling to get out of your personal space for the day, it might be good to get yourself your favorite drink and just enjoy it with yourself. Some of my personal favorites are hot tea, hot cocoa, a kombucha, or iced coffee. Drinking something seasonal on a bad day can bring some serotonin and get you in the better mood for whatever season it may be. It doesn’t fix my problems completely, but I know that whenever I’m drinking hot chocolate in the winter, it gets me in the holiday spirit and brightens my day a little more.
meditation
Some may think that this is unnecessary or dumb, but meditating a little bit each day can give you zen. This can give you good energy for the day, which believe it or not, radiates onto others and can even help someone else’s day. Starting your day with a short meditation can put your mind at ease for a little bit, which can bring you some peace and put you in a good head space for the day.
surrounding yourself with positive people
Not everyone that comes into your life will bring a positive vibe. It’s hard to detect this sometimes, but another person’s negative energy will always affect you even if you try to avoid it. Surrounding yourself with people that make you feel safe and cared for, even if it’s just one trusted individual, is always the answer. When you have a positive environment around you, it inspires you to be positive as well.
making a to-do list
When your mental health is putting you in a slump, I know how difficult it is to get any of your responsibilities done, even if it’s small things such as putting away some laundry. It’s helpful to write everything out that you have to accomplish and reward yourself with small things when you check something off of your list. Even if it’s as small as taking a shower and brushing your teeth, if you check it off of your list, you should feel proud and accomplished.
daily affirmations
Over this past summer, when I found myself in a bad place, I had to remind myself of what matters most to me: myself and my own wellbeing. When life isn’t going your way and you can’t find reasons to be happy, you have to remember that you are beautiful, loved, and you matter. You can take a dry erase marker or some sticky notes and leave affirmations on a mirror in your room. It may not seem necessary, but when you are reminded every day of all you’ve accomplished and all you have to accomplish in your future, it shows you that you can do this and you can keep moving forward.
In a world full of negativity, you are loved, you are cared about, you matter, and I believe in you.