Mental Health Tips for College Students

College is all about transition, and changes can really take a mental toll on many college students. Experiencing independence, a change in peer groups, and handling a more intense workload are all aspects of college life that can be draining on the emotions of students. In order to focus on positive mental health throughout the college experience, it’s important to utilize some tips and tactics to stay in a healthy headspace. By providing structure, learning how to de-stress, staying organized, and knowing where to find support, students have the ability to utilize coping mechanisms to keep their mental health healthy.

Schedule Yourself

One of the major adjustments that college students need to make in their transition is that they need to learn how to schedule themselves. Being thrown into independence can be overwhelming, and the temptation to ignore a schedule can be hard to resist. In high school, teachers take large part in holding their students accountable. Living at home allows parents to schedule their children and make sure they are getting work done, eating right, and going to bed on time. Few college professors will make sure their students are attending class and getting the education they need – it’s up to the student to do those things. Even for online students, time management is vital for success, and it’s also vital for mental health.

Set a time to wake up, a time for breakfast, a time for class, a time for homework, and a time for bed. Chaos can lead to anxiety, and many college students find themselves in an unhealthy headspace as a result. Practicing healthy time management will give college students the structure they need to feel secure in the task at hand.

De-stressing

Preventing stress in college students is an impossibility; the key is learning coping mechanisms to deal with the stress when it happens. It can be difficult to juggle deadlines, finals, reading, classes, and studying no matter how accustomed to a heavy workload you are. Learning to de-stress is a balancing act, and it’s all about acknowledging when it’s becoming too much before it happens, and not after you’ve broken down. If you’re feeling down, anxious, overwhelmed, or emotional in a way that is difficult to handle, take a break from your task. There are many ways to help beat the stress that college can cause including meditation, exercise, or a hobby.

In order to lessen the stress, pinpoint what the source of the stress is. If it's feeling overwhelmed, make a conscious effort to take a break from all things school for a portion of every day, no matter how overworked you feel, in order to re-energize yourself. If it’s stress over school performance, look into a tutor or meeting with a professor. Coping with the feeling is important, and so is being proactive about the problem.

Stay Organized

In the same way that scheduling will aid in a positive headspace for mental health, staying organized will do the same thing. We respond well to an organized space that is clean and comfortable. Changing our surroundings will help to change our feelings inside and it’s amazing how much a simple change in organization can revitalize a person. It can be difficult to keep a small space like a dorm room organized and clean, but there are plenty of tricks to keep a dorm room organized in order to promote positive mental health. Utilizing unique storage spaces and mixing décor with practicality are key in creating an organized environment.  When classes feel hectic, schedules are overwhelming, and deadlines are looming, keeping your environment organized will aid in feeling more relaxed and determined.

Seeking Support

A vital element to positive mental health is to understand the importance in seeking support. Finding a community can be vital for students entering a new environment and leaving the support system they are used to. Finding community can mean getting involved with your university, joining a sport, or getting involved in a club. Finding your peer group can be amazingly helpful in feeling comfortable and social when the alternative is to feel secluded and closed off. If you’re suffering from mental health issues and you’re concerned, know who you can talk to including an RA or a medical professional on campus. College students should be aware of the dangers of drug dependence and how some tend to utilize unsafe substances to cope with stress and mental health struggles. It’s important to recognize when there is a problem and that there is always support available if you’re feeling depressed, anxious, suicidal, helpless, or angry.

Mental health is as important as physical health no matter what stage of life you are in. For college students that are in an extreme time of transition that can create a dicey mental health situation, it’s important to know how to recognize a problem and how to cope with it. College is a fantastic experience that teaches students how to be independent, how to juggle a lot of work, and how to adapt to new situations. However, it can also lead to stress and negative mental health consequences. In order to promote positive mental health, students should focus on scheduling, de-stressing, staying organized, and finding a support system. With all of these coping mechanisms, college students have the ability to revel in adversity and not suffer as a result.