From one college student to another, it’s very common that the pressure of things like work, school, and relationships will inevitably take a toll on us. Being unable to control this effectively can lead to a decline in our mental health and cause us to fall into a slump. Taking charge and adding these few little things to your daily routine can and will help you right your slump and pick yourself back up.
- WRITE
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Sometimes physically talking doesn’t help like everyone says it does. To effectively get out your feelings without feeling like a burden or worrying about other people’s opinions, buy a cute journal and colored pens and write out all of your feelings. This could be affirmations, a tell-all about your day, or your deepest desires or fears; but, don’t let your thoughts fester, clear your mind. Ultimately, focus on writing however you feel will effectively make you feel better, like decorating the pages, doodling, or even annotating your own thoughts.
- PURGE YOUR PERSONAL SPACE
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Bear in mind that getting yourself out of a rut can extend to cleansing your personal space! Get rid of your expired makeup and hair products and downsize your routine. Purge your closets of everything you never wear or see yourself wearing (even if the dress was $100 and you swore to yourself you would wear it at least once (over a year ago)). There’s no need to spend money on products or new clothes if you don’t need to! However, if it makes you happy to treat yourself to gifts, feel free. There will always be recommendations on TikTok or Pinterest if you’re looking for new things!
- GIVE YOUR PHONE A MAKEOVER
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Delete all the unwanted media on your phone including photos, texts, and apps that you don’t use or merely aren’t good for you at this present moment (yes, that includes your social media). You can even go out and buy a new phone case to make it look like you have a brand-new phone (at least that’s what I do). Target has phone cases for every phone at an affordable value! For me, it helps to delete my social media for a good amount of time and simply not be on my phone as much as I usually am to get out of a slump. It may be easier said than done, especially in this day and age, but turning on Do Not Disturb and only texting people who are good for you will pay off in the long run.
- Change Up One Thing About Yourself
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Trim your hair, dye it, whiten your teeth, paint your nails—do something that will make you feel more put together than you believe yourself to be. This will trick your brain into becoming more motivated and convince yourself that you’re a different and rejuvenated person. If you’re willing to spend a little bit of money, consider splurging, something like getting your nails done instead of doing them at home; it will make you feel more in control of your life.
- Create a morning/night routine
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Both of these routines are important in their own separate ways to try and regain control of your life during a slump. Developing a steady morning routine will excite you and motivate you to get out of bed in the morning to get it done while a good night routine will make you fall asleep feeling good In the morning, aim to wake up at a specific time and try to stick to that as much as possible. Some ideas to complete your morning routine could be doing your makeup and hair, and following that with a good breakfast. Working on it more and more every day will lead to you feeling at least a little bit better. At night, turn off your phone, pull out a good book, and take an “everything” shower to soothe you to bed.
So, whether you’re battling the blues or just looking to add a little more sunshine to your days, remember this: take a breather, write those feelings down, declutter your space, treat yourself, and create your ideal routine. Embrace these changes, and watch as life starts to feel a little brighter, one step at a time, as you push yourself out of this slump. You’ve got this!