Ways to Cope with Being Overwhelmed as a Student
Being a college student is difficult, that is no secret to anyone. Pursuing a career in healthcare can be especially difficult, and there is a lot of hard work that goes into your undergrad years to prepare. While it is important to stay on track with things and put in the hard work, it is super easy to become overwhelmed with everything and feel like you have no time for yourself. Here are some things you can make time for in your schedule to help decompress from a busy college schedule.
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Try working out or some kind of activity that involves moving your body
Working out and moving your body is extremely beneficial for not only your physical health, but your mental health as well. This is important for students and it gives you a break from thinking about whatever assignments you may be stressing about. There are so many types of exercise you are sure to find one that you enjoy. I personally love going on walks with my roommates and going to hot yoga in the evenings when I can!
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Try Reading
You may view reading as a boring thing that you are forced to do in school, but it actually can be very enjoyable. If you’ve been on TikTok lately, I’m sure you've seen at least one of the trending videos suggesting different books to read. Use this opportunity to read something for your own enjoyment rather than a book report. Another pro to reading is that it gives you a break from looking at screens all day, which is especially important given our current dependency on technology.
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Try Cooking a New Recipe
With food delivery apps, it can be tempting to order food online and eat out a lot. I personally am trying to cook more for my own health and enjoyment. Take a break from your assignment or that Netflix show and cook a new recipe or bake something yummy!
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Try Journaling
I am sure you have heard about the benefits of journaling at one point or another in your life. Journaling can be a great way to get out your emotions and frustrations in a simple way. Whether that be about a class that is really hard, a professor you sort of dislike or personal struggles and drama, writing it down in a journal can help you process the emotions and stress healthily.
Stress and being overwhelmed can be really damaging and hard to deal with. I hope these tips were helpful and that you try them in your own daily routine! Note that these tips are not meant to replace professional help. If you are truly struggling with stress or mental health issues, please reach out to get help. CAPS is available to all MSU students and offers a variety of resources and services.
By Mikayla