Coping With Stress and Anxiety in College

College is something that every adult raves about. All you hear as a teen is that “college is the best four years of your life!” Well, sometimes I feel inclined to disagree. I know this might sound shocking to some, but there are a lot of things about college that I’m not so fond of.

College brings out the best and the worst of me. I work hard and it has paid off so far, but I have a strong tendency to gravitate towards stress and anxiety. Living a healthy lifestyle is about more than just nutrition and exercise, it also has a lot to do with mental wellness. Lately, I’ve been struggling to cope with the increasing amounts of stress that college has brought me.

I find myself crying at the end of some days because I am constantly worrying about financing my study abroad program for next semester, doing well in my classes, doing well at work, saving money, and so on. The problem is that I don’t need to be worrying as much as I do, I need to just do the best that I can, and know that my best is good enough.

Right now college is strange for me because I’m stuck between wanting to go back in time and wanting to graduate and move on with my life. I feel like I’m in this weird in between stage that I don’t know how to handle. Next year will be much better for me because I am studying abroad in Ireland in the fall, and then I am (finally) living in an apartment in the spring. Living in my own apartment and having my own personal space will finally make me feel independent, and I will have the freedom to cook my own meals and have my own bathroom. I know that these little things will make me much happier in the long run.

BUT don’t get me wrong, at the end of the day I know that I am happy to be a college student at UNH, but sometimes I allow my stress and anxiety to get the best of me. Living with anxiety is not enjoyable, and I’ve finally decided to accept it and really do something about it. I am starting to take all natural medication that is supposed to help me relax, and if that is not helping me, I am planning to visit my Doctor at home. Here are some tips that I am trying in order to cope with stress and anxiety, I hope they can be beneficial for others as well!

1. Be Mindful. Make a conscious effort to be mindful, and live in the present moment instead of worrying about the past or the future. This can be difficult because in this day and age people never really live in the present moment when they are always on their phones, or in my case, worrying. Just start to pay close attention to everything you do from washing your hands to eating, this will make everything you do more meaningful.

2. Do Something You Love Everyday. What makes you happy? Is it exercising, watching your favorite tv show, hanging out with friends? Whatever it is, DO IT! Personally, I love being by myself and listening to music. I love discovering new music, it helps me relieve stress and tension, and it makes me happy. I listen to music for at least an hour at night to help me unwind and fall asleep.

3. Know Your Limits. You know yourself better than anyone, so listen to your body. If you feel exhausted, stop studying and go to bed. If something that you are doing is overwhelming you and causing stress, cut back on that activity. Constantly pushing yourself to your limits can only harm your mental wellness in the long run.

4. Know When to Ask For Help. This can be hard for people to accept, and it is definitely hard for me to do. If you feel as though your stress level is increasing and that it is out of your control, talk to someone, anyone. I personally talk to my mom because she knows me the best. I also plan on talking to someone through the counseling center at my school to get an outside perspective on my own mental wellness. And let me tell you, there is nothing wrong with that! It can be really valuable to here another opinion, and get an experts advice.

College should be one of the best times in your life, but it will not always be that way. My advice to you is to do everything you can to stay balanced and happy while in college. There is no better time than now to discover yourself, and discover a balanced lifestyle.

~AML

April: A Month of Rebirth and Change

Today is the day that I have officially decided to start my healthy living blog.

April is a month of rebirth and great change. It is time to be happy and change myself for the better.

The sun is beginning to shine in beautiful Durham, New Hampshire and my motivation is quickly returning.

I am a freshman at The University of New Hampshire, and I am so excited to share my healthy tips and routines through this blog. I came into college weighing almost 15 pounds less than I weigh today. YES the freshman 15 is real!

There are many factors that go into gaining weight as a freshman in college. Eating poorly is something that we all do from time to time, but sometimes it’s hard to realize how poorly you really are eating. Having one cookie everyday (something that I loved to do) really adds up if you are religiously doing it everyday for about 9 months out of the year.

BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OPTIONS.

Yes, it’s true. There are so many options ranging from greasy french fries to sautéed spinach. At every college there are ALWAYS unhealthy options. At UNH there’s always fluffy waffles, bagels, and donuts out for breakfast. There’s always french fries, hamburgers, and hot dogs available for lunch and dinner. And there’s always an array of yummy desserts to choose from such as cookies, brownies, and cake.

It is sometimes hard to find a healthy option when all you can think about is the fluffy waffles, or the delicious Frosted Flakes. If you’re anything like me, it is so hard to maintain self-control when there’s an overwhelming amount of unhealthy choices. (Come on! They have nutella all day everyday? That’s evil).

BUT THERE’S HOPE. If you keep your eyes and mind open you will find many healthy options. For example, you can always go for the salad and yogurt bars. Greek yogurt is a delicious and healthy option for breakfast or lunch. If salad isn’t your thing, you can almost always find some type of vegetable entrée or side dish. The vegan station is also a great place to find healthy options such as sweet potatoes.

There are many other factors that can contribute to weight gain such as alcohol consumption..BEER is filled with empty calories that you don’t need! Also stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, and a lack exercise all contribute to weight gain.

I will cover these factors that contribute to weight gain more in-depth in future blog posts. I will also discuss how you can avoid gaining weight and getting into a healthy routine.

It is time to live a healthy lifestyle. We are no longer children, we can no longer eat whatever we want whenever we want. If you inform yourself now and begin to get into a healthy routine now, you will be more likely to stick with a healthy routine throughout your life.

I will be posting in-depth descriptions and pictures of what I eat for each meal, and I will be posting my exercise routines and exercise tips. I will be logging how I’m feeling regarding happiness, alertness, stress, and anxiety. It is likely that my mood will be greatly impacted by the amount of sleep I get, the way I eat, and the amount of exercise I do.

Today is the day to start fresh and begin to live a healthy lifestyle. I am excited to see the changes within myself, and to share my exciting ideas, tips, and experiences!

–AML