Hey, You! Take Care of Yourself

You’re in the middle of a particularly difficult semester in which a microbiology lab report, a ten page paper for your Shakespeare class, and an organic chemistry exam all fall during the same week. Sound familiar? You spend the week in front of your laptop in your school library, torn between the temptations of social media and all of your schoolwork. You eat whatever is around, drink obscene amounts of coffee, and sleep four hours a night. By the end of this monstrous week, you have greasy hair, blotchy skin, and dry eyes. Unfortunately, weeks like this are not uncommon in college, but that’s no excuse to not take care of yourself.

Here’s how to do it.

Eat, drink and be merry!

When stressed out, some people want to eat everything in sight, while others get nauseous at the sight of food. Neither is a good attitude to have. Eating and drinking properly will help you feel your best on days when you have to be the most productive. Many of us like to have tea or coffee in the morning with our breakfast. That’s totally fine. Tea and coffee have a good number of antioxidants, which help get rid of free radicals in your body. However, both drinks can also leave you dehydrated. You can still have these beverages in the morning, but start off your day by drinking a cup of water. It will hydrate your body after sleep. Drinking water throughout the day will reduce the amount of fatigue you feel and keep your brain working at a high level.

Now on to food. It’s easy to reach for those vending machine chips, but go for some healthier options. Pack some baby carrots to eat as a snack. Grab a handful of strawberries, a cluster of grapes, or some good Greek yogurt. If you’re a meat-eater, grill some chicken breasts or bake some salmon (omega-3 fatty acids are great for you). If you’re not a meat-eater, indulge in a variety of nuts and grains—such as quinoa—with high amounts of protein. Stay away from fast food, soft drinks, and sugary things. They’ll make you feel even more tired. Think of your body as one giant, delicate factory. Power it wisely.

Exercise

Many people find that physical exercise reduces stress by channeling nervous energy into something productive. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which reduce pain and make you feel good. There are all kinds of ways of getting your body moving, and they can be done at all times of the day (though you probably should not do hardcore cardio at 10 p.m.). Get your blood pumping in the morning by running on a treadmill or biking. Do some yoga for 30-minute intervals in the morning or the middle of day. Take long walks in the sunshine or in the rain. Go for an exhilarating run.

If you’re stuck in the library studying, stretch every hour to relieve tension in your back and neck. Make sure you’re moving every once in a while—staying in a sitting position all day is enough to make anyone crazy.

Skin Care

As a member of the fairer sex, I know more about women’s skin care than men’s, but I’m sure similar rules apply to both sexes. When you are under a lot of stress, your skin may become blotchy, itchy, greasy, and more acne-prone. Your skin is one of the biggest indicators of your internal health. If it doesn’t look healthy, then something is going on. Wash your face twice a day, and remember to use moisturizer on your face and neck. During a study break, try making a face mask. There are recipes for all kinds of face masks online. (Choose a recipe from a reputable source, and make sure you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients.) While the mask is working its magic, close your eyes and listen to some calming music. Imagine yourself on a beach in Hawaii.

Mind

This is arguably the most important category. Though stress most obviously affects our physical health, it is ultimately rooted in our minds. Think about it. You have a test coming up, a paper to research, or an important presentation to give. All of these things send your brain into panic mode. When your brain is in panic mode, you feel the effects of it in the rest of your body.

There are many ways to calm your mind. It may be as simple as taking breaks every hour to relieve your brain and eyes from the glare of the computer screen. Read some inspirational quotes, listen to music, make cookies, dance, go for a run, take a nap, or talk to a friend. Do whatever works. Remind yourself that whatever is stressing you out is one small thing in the huge expanse of time. It will soon pass, and you will be on to the next stressful thing.

Some say that stress motivates us. Without it, we would just sit on our couches all day and obsessively update our social media accounts. There is some truth to this idea. In the last five minutes of an exam, there’s a rush of adrenaline—you suddenly understand how to do the calc problem you’ve been agonizing over for the last hour. That fight-or-flight response has enabled living organisms to survive and succeed for millions of years. Use it to your advantage. Know when it’s appropriate to have a calm mind and when it should be working hard. Your mind is a tool that you have to learn how to use.

Take care, fellow college students!