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The half-point of the semester often means heavy course loads, test prep, job hunting and increased responsibility. It’s a lot! With so much focus on productivity and keeping up with hectic schedules, we often forget to prioritize ourselves and our needs. But it all starts with you, if you don’t prioritize a well mind and body, you run the risk of burning out and neglecting yourself. Slowing down and reminding yourself to stay present can help you find balance in the midst of all the chaos. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so taking a second to evaluate your physical and emotional needs is a great first step to recharging and pouring back into yourself.
Here are some restorative activities you can incorporate into your routine or your free time to help renew energy and support your mental health!
Self-care activities
- Take yourself out on a solo date. Don’t wait for people to do the things you want to do! If you’ve been wanting to go see Wuthering Heights and buy yourself flowers, go do it! Time alone can replenish your social battery and allow you to show up better when you return to your obligatory tasks.
- Take up exercising. Moving your body regularly is a great natural remedy for releasing stress and restoring energy. When you work out, your brain releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine; or in other words, the “happy chemicals” your body needs. These chemicals help to alleviate stress, promote relaxation, improve quality of sleep and fight depression. Your goal doesn’t have to be losing weight, and you don’t have to work out for 2 hours a day, if that’s not your forte. The key here is to do what feels good to your body! Bonus points if you exercise in sunlight!
- Sleep, sleep and sleep! We have to get enough sleep to fuel our bodies and our busy schedules! You should aim for about 7-9 hours a night. Sleep helps you recover, supports optimal academic performance and improves emotional health. Listen to your body when it tells you it needs rest. More often than not, when we feel ourselves crashing sleep is the remedy we don’t think about trying. If you can’t reach that 7–9-hour mark, try timed naps for a boost of energy!
- The people yearn for connection! For a lot of us, college is the first place we’ve had to employ the concept of work-life balance. Big words for Elmo, I know! It’s not an easy feat on top of performing well academically, making enough money to support yourself and remembering to feed yourself 3 times a day. It’s a lot! Setting aside some uninterrupted time with your village throughout the week can help keep you going. Implementing no “phone zones” when spending time with friends can be helpful in trying to stay present. This time doesn’t need to be extravagant or expensive; it could be something as simple as calling your mom and catching up or staying in and baking cookies.
- Us humans are not all that complicated. Whenever you are proud of yourself or you’ve just achieved something remotely cool…reward yourself! We often forget to celebrate our small wins, or we forget to celebrate our wins at all because we’ve already moved on to our next milestone. This is a missed opportunity to be present and take in how your hard work manifested into success. For me, after getting through an especially trying week I reward myself with a Chipotle bowl (or as me and my best friend like to call it, “chip”)! For you, that may be grabbing a sweet treat or buying yourself something from your Shein cart; it can be anything if it makes you happy!
- Go touch grass…no seriously go touch grass! Grounding is a great way to alleviate stress and promote emotional regulation. You can also try short, guided meditations to help quiet your mind and bring awareness back to your body. You might also try yoga to help
Mizzou mental health resources
- From educational workshops to 1 on 1 well-being coaching, the Counseling Center and Wellness Resource Center are great places to utilize if you ever feel you need extra support. If you are looking for more individualized support, you should consider making an appointment with the counseling center. Visit the Student Health and Well-Being page for more resources and to learn more about the various services Mizzou offers!
The Mental Health Coalition
- The Mental Health Coalition is an organization that seeks to de-stigmatize conversations about mental health. The College Student Mental Health Toolkit is a comprehensive resource that includes information about ways college students can manage their mental health as they begin to navigate adulthood.
Productivity begins and ends with you, so prioritize pouring into yourself and checking in regularly. Remember, mental health is health! It’s okay to take a break, you’re human, and you come first.
By Raigan Clay