Starting college or returning to campus can be exciting but also stressful.
A previous post discusses strategies for a successful transition to college.
A recent article by the JED foundation suggests the following strategies (1):
Take Care of Yourself (1)
• Find a lounge or café if you like a cozy place to hang out.
• If you know that a morning workout helps you manage stress, find out how early the gym opens.
• Between classes or activities, try to leave yourself enough time to enjoy a moment of respite before jumping into the next thing. It could be just sitting on a bench in the quad and taking some good, deep breaths.
• Carve out some time every week to talk to someone you trust and can be open with.
• Establish small rituals for yourself in the mornings and evenings that help you reset, such as writing in a journal, taking stock of your schedule and tasks, listening to music, or taking a walk outside.
Get Connected (1)
• One of the most powerful ways to take care of your mental health is to form meaningful connections at school. Examples, including keeping in touch with friends, making new friends, student organizations, recreational leagues, volunteer organizations, affinity groups, etc.
Find your community at college (1)
• Most schools have comprehensive lists of clubs and organizations on their website that you can look at even before you get to campus.
• Talk to staff in the Student Life or Student Activities office. They can often help you find social activities as well as information about internships, leadership roles, work-study programs, and more.
Look at the Big Picture of Mental Health (1)
• While speaking with a mental health professional can be extremely valuable when you are really struggling, it is important to also remember things you can do to promote your mental health—like getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, engaging with others, mindfulness practices, etc.
Other thoughts:
- Avoid excessive caffeine, alcohol, and other drugs as these may worsen mental health.
- If you find you aren’t able to function as well or your symptoms are impacting your mental health despite the above strategies, consider counseling (1). For more, go to https://jedfoundation.org/resource/going-to-campus-mindfully/
- For a variety of mental health resource options in and around campus, go to: https://ccs.osu.edu/services/mental-health-support
By R. Ryan S Patel DO, FAPA OSU-CCS Psychiatrist
If you would like to be notified about future monthly posts, enter your email and click the subscribe button above.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to be informative only. It is advised that you check with your own physician/mental health provider before implementing any changes. With this article, the author is not rendering medical advice, nor diagnosing, prescribing, or treating any condition, or injury; and therefore claims no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or injury caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material presented. Permission to use/cite this article: contact patel.2350@osu.edu
Reference: 1. https://jedfoundation.org/resource/going-to-campus-mindfully/