How To Have The Healthiest Relationship With Yourself While In College

With classes right around the corner, we thought it would be a good idea to talk about something that most college (or even high school) students do not do, and that’s remember to take care of themselves.

In the midst of lectures, papers, finals, and all the other events that happen in our personal lives (fights with lovers, drama among friends), it’s easy to start feeling tired and a little depressed. So just how can we take care of ourselves while we’re making our way through college?

We’ve got you with these five tips.

1. Make sure you get some sleep.

It’s easy to neglect your health when you’re invested in so much at one time. Aside from busting your ass to try and make your dreams come true, make sure to take some time to get some shut eye. Being tired will make you sluggish in class and have all this brain fog, making it difficult to concentrate. A lack of sleep can also cause depression, and that’s never a good thing to be going through in college.

When we’re down and don’t feel good as individuals, it begins to permeate into other aspects of our lives, like classes, friends, and relationships. Take good care of yourself by sleeping and your mind and body will thank you.

2. Opt for healthier foods on campus.

A diet full of beer drinking and fried foods might lend itself to being cheaper and yeah, maybe a little better tasting than the cardboard veggie pizza at the dining hall, but it’s not going to keep you feeling good. Poor diet has all kinds of negative effects, like weight gain, breakouts, and depression. When your mood is boosted and you feel mentally alert, you’ll be able to perform better in class and feel more centered throughout the semester.

Also, food is a type of nourishment, so instead of trying to just shove something down to keep your stomach from grumbling, treat it as something loving you are doing for your body and yourself.

3. Only be in a relationship if you truly want that.

Don’t feel pressured to have a boyfriend or hook up with that guy from the party. Being in a relationship is a lot of work, and you put yourself in a position where you are caring for someone else’s feelings and sharing different aspects of your life with them. While this can be absolutely wonderful, it can also be difficult and emotionally exhausting. Only be in a relationship if it’s something you truly feel ready for, and if you’re not, take the time to just work on and care for yourself.

4. Make a study schedule.

Instead of bombarding yourself with a ton of studying and papers at the last minute, spread out the time you need to spend on your assignments over a longer period of time. This will help eliminate stress, which can cause awful side effects like triggering eating disorders, sleep problems, depression and anger, skin reactions, and irregular menstrual cycles.

5. Listen to the way you feel.

The most important tip is to not neglect your wants and needs, which is incredibly easy to do during the semester. If you’re tired, close the books and try getting some sleep. There are only so many all-nighters you can pull before your immune system feels the effects. If you don't feel happy in a relationship, maybe it’s time to leave. Just make sure you are doing what is making you happy, and your mind and body will feel all the more better.

Remember, you have to love yourself before you can love anyone else, and that begins with self-care.