Staying Well While in College

College can be one of the most stressful times in your life, which is why it is so critical to develop strong coping strategies. You risk a lot if you do not make your wellbeing a priority. Instead of allowing your life to be run by stress, consider following a few tips to help you control your own wellbeing.

Cope with Anxiety and Stress

College is often a difficult time, and there are many stresses on you to do well. However, you do not need to let it get the best of you. Even though you might never perfectly juggle all your responsibilities, there are ways of making sure you manage your anxiety about it. You can review a guide on strategies for coping with stress in college students. One way of doing that is by considering telehealth to connect with therapists and other people to talk to.

Have a Support Group in Place

You don't have to be the only one who cares for yourself and taking care of yourself should not be a burden. Having a support system in place can help you maintain your wellbeing. Your family and friends are there to listen to you and encourage you along the way. And if you are having difficulties, they should encourage you to turn to a professional to learn what is happening so you can develop better coping skills. 

Talk to others around you about your mental health so you can create relationships to help you get through college. By reaching out to others, you can build these relationships yourself. Your friends can encourage you along the way if they notice you are anxious or depressed. Remember, friendship is a two-way street, so if you notice your friends are feeling down or anxious, encourage them to seek help for themselves, and let them know you are there for them. By discussing mental health challenges with each other, you can exchange helpful stories and advice.

Make Time for What You Love

When you have a busy semester, it is easy to get stressed out about classes, homework, and other responsibilities. However, if you organize yourself and try to get homework done early, you'll find you are a lot less anxious about things. Make time to do things you love, whether that is spending time with friends, watching a movie, or doing a craft project. Manage expectations and ask questions as necessary to set clear goals. Remember, you do not need to understand everything in just a few minutes. 

Ask your professors, classmates, peers, and others who might be able to help you. For example, ask where that new class is instead of wandering around, looking for it. Create a calendar of due dates and make sure you get things done before those dates to give yourself plenty of breathing room.  And cross things off your daily to-do list to keep yourself organized. By taking these responsibilities one at a time, you can break your workload down into much more manageable steps. Don't be afraid to ask questions when you have them.