BWW Blog: Back to School - Mind and Body

Taking care of yourself and staying organized is so important in college, but it can be difficult because of the lifestyle of most college students. In your freshman year, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the coursework, new people, new environment and multitude of options for extracurriculars, so it is essential that you take time to check in with yourself and take care of your mind and body. Here are 5 simple ways to practice self-care and stay organized even in the craziness of freshman year of college.

1. Make time to get your body moving.

It can be so hard to find the motivation to get the to the gym and fit in a workout, but there is always the time, if you make it a priority in your life. I know it may sound cliche but working out really does improve your mood and if you work out regularly your mood is going to be much more regular than if you don't. And the great thing about working out are there are so many different ways to do it! Find something that you like and make a habit of it! I promise you that exercise will be a worthwhile habit to develop in college and though it takes a little time out of your day it makes the time you have left much more productive and positive!

2. Write down your thoughts daily.

Writing down your thoughts can be so helpful because it provides clarity. When your mind is racing because you are anxious and stressed out, if you take the time to write down the thoughts running through your mind, it can help you determine what is bothering you so you can then take action to make a change. Writing is also a huge stress reliever because it forces you to clarify your thoughts enough so you can formulate a sentence. This is a tool I found very helpful my freshman year because I would often get overwhelmed so I would take the time to write and it always made me feel better.

3. Make a to-do list

Making a to-do list is so important to avoid procrastination and stress. As soon as you get assignments write them down on you list with the due date so you know when you have to get it done by. The workload in college is very manageable as long as you take action to manage your time well and stay organized in your classes. If you make a to-do list with everything you need to get done, it forces you to hold yourself accountable and finish your work on time!

4. Write down your goals and your plan to achieve them.

College is a time to start figuring out what you want to do with your and life and that can be really overwhelming. One way to help take off some of the pressure the world is putting on you to figure out your life path is take the time to figure out your short and long term goals and how you can achieve those goals. If you have it written down and you can look at it, that can keep you motivated to work towards building a meaningful life for yourself.

5. Reach out to an old friend or family if you need support.

In the beginning college can be difficult and you may feel embarrassed to reach out to friends from high school or even your family, but you shouldn't! Reaching out to these people is totally normal and ok because they are the people who know you best. If you are ever feeling homesick or a little sad, call your parents and just chat with them. I called my mom quite frequently first semester and I always felt better after talking to her. So if you feel like you need to talk to someone who knows you well don't hesitate to call!