From stepping out of your home comfort to attending morning to evening lectures, joining college can bring a thrilling adventure to your normal day-to-day life. All of these changes can be overwhelming sometimes, and you may be required to adjust to the new environment and routines.
Getting everything together, whether it’s an impeccable session score, financial stress or social pressure, can disrupt your peace of mind. So to take a toll to preserve your mental health, explore the strategies and key practices that can help you to score good grades without sacrificing your mental health.
Take Charge of Your Finances
Starting your college journey is backed up with some unsaid responsibilities. Not going to lie, but money is one of the biggest stresses for college students. Managing the finances that include fees, books, travel expenses, food, and shelter drains your cash reserves in no time.
Learning how and when to spend your money from the start can help you better handle your finances. Start with the basics, like listing down your monthly expenses in your notes and try to cut down the unnecessary bills.
On the other hand, if you are a student who has taken an education loan and is doing a part-time job, mind my words, do not let your finances go out of control. Keep an eye on your monthly instalment and pay it before the due date.
Factors that affect the student loan refinance rates include your credit score, payment modes and lender policies. Hence, refinancing can be crucial for your upcoming academic journey, so try to create a sense of control in your finances from the very first day.
Set Realistic Academic Goals
Focus on making realistic academic goals that are specific, relevant, and achievable. Overconfidence and over expectation can harm your real potential. Do not constantly hunt for perfection; just do your studies correctly, and you will be rewarded for what you deserve.
Start by evaluating your current academic score and where you stand, and focus on the areas that need improvement.
Learn to Say No
Undoubtedly, the college journey gives you unforgettable experiences. Whether it is a lecture discussion, practical sessions or social outings, you will gather endless memories. But, everything should be practised in limits. And to prevent your academics from getting hampered, learn to say no.
Avoid overcommitting to social outings, parties, night outs and group studies. Instead, use that time for your preparations. Setting boundaries and clearly narrating them in your surroundings can help you build a positive and workable environment around you.
Stay Physically Active
Studying straight for more than 5 hours can be productive. But on the other hand, it might be slowly harming your physical health. So to keep yourself fit and healthy, you just need to stay physically active on a regular basis.
Keep in mind, staying healthy doesn’t require becoming a gym rat. Follow an exercise routine to keep your body moving and relaxed. In between your study hours, to life or re-energise your mood, take a dancing or zumba break.
Seek Out Campus Mental Health Resources
If you are someone who is unable to resolve your mental breakdowns on your own, you don’t need to worry. Seek out help from your campus mental health resources or support groups.
Other than that, reach out to your trusted professors, staff members, or colleagues and narrate all your worries and take suggestions.
Remember that, healing requires and to ask for that it requires a lot of courage. Using the mental health recovery resources doesn’t mean that you are weak, unless it makes you strong and sets a moral example for others.
Build Supportive Relationships
College brings you closer to new bonds and relationships. It starts with an academic relationship but ends up giving you a lifetime friend. Distanced from family, your colleagues, and roommates become your family in your college period and influence how you think, feel and address the upcoming challenges.
So, when it comes to choosing your college family, you should be particular. People who encourage you, support you, lift your mood and address your concerns can bring a positive environment in your college days.
Take Digital Breaks
Maintaining the academic score you dreamt of requires lots of hard work and consistency. College requires both online and offline study materials. Continuous digital classes can drain your concentration, leading to constant headaches and eye tiredness.
Other than that, restrict your browsing timings and strictly adhere to it. Practice exercise and yoga to give relief to your mind and eyes. Protect your peace by limiting your screen time and adopting of habit of cutting back on using your phone in the morning.
Know When to Recalibrate
Recalibrating can invite new opportunities and life overall confidence and well-being. The practice includes the introduction of a new schedule that may include a new study routine, habits, and overall academic approach. But knowing when to recalibrate is crucial.
If something isn’t working, try to make changes several times. Consult it with your professors or mentors and follow their suggestions. Your academic success does not only depend on your grades and marks, it is a result of your overall journey.
