The Best Ways To Relax And Calm Your Mind. A Student Guide

Do you have papers to complete? Mid-terms approaching? Finals? Are you worried about an upcoming presentation? These are things you have to deal with in college, but they’re not the only things on your plate. You also might have a job and/or participate in extracurricular activities. And then you have your social time. When you combine everything, you’re going to be high on stress and low on sleep. Fortunately, there are ways to calm your mind.

15-Minute Power Nap

Stop trying to move at warp speed all the time. If you’re tired, you’re not going to produce the same quantity or quality of work. Fifteen minutes might seem valuable, but when you’re recharged, you’re going to experience a long burst of energy. This natural boost of energy is much more powerful than drinking a Red Bull when tired, which only leads to a short-term energy boost and crash. Always remember the following: There is no substitute for sleep.

Exercise Routine

The best route is to go to the gym. If you live on campus, you likely have free access to a gym, which is incredibly valuable. If you feel intimidated by that gym and you can afford going to an Anytime Fitness or Planet Fitness center off-campus, do it. Your fitness level is irrelevant. These aren’t musclehead gyms. They are for everyone, which is why they’re mentioned here. Getting off campus will also take your mind off the stresses of college life and calm your mind.

If none of the above are options for you, ride a bicycle to and from class. And if you can’t afford a bicycle, try to find a free yoga class. Yoga is an excellent way to calm your mind.

Eat Healthy

You probably always heard people telling you to eat healthy when you were a kid. You knew they were right, but you didn’t care because you were a kid and knew you would be fine and eat healthy when you were older. Here’s what you might not have known. Eating healthy has been proven to boost brain power.

Logically, you need a lot of brain power when you’re in college. If you want an edge, this is one way to get it. The next time you see someone eating unhealthy, don’t say anything to them, but remind yourself that eating poorly has the opposite impact as healthy food: It will sap your energy. Don’t be that person.

Grab A Drink With A Friend

As long as you don’t suffer from Alcohol Use Disorder, and as long as you’re 21, it’s okay to grab a drink once in a while. In most cases, you’re going to have a drink when out with a group, but this is different. When you’re out with only one friend, it’s a much calmer setting and you’re likely going to talk about deeper things. This is how you bond with a friend. And when you bond with a friend, it makes you feel good. This, in turn, calms your mind because you know you have someone in your corner no matter what.

De-Clutter & Organize

This is an extremely powerful move, but you won’t believe it until you do it. Go through every inch of your room and car and de-clutter. Also reorganize everything with simplicity in mind. Your mood is going to improve, which will lead to increased productivity.

Proof Of Message

The American Psychological Association (APA) recently did a study of teens. While not all college students are teens, this study is still relevant. The APA found that 30% of teens are overwhelmed, depressed, or sad due to stress. Approximately half of the teens surveyed spent an average of three hours per night on studying and/or homework. This is sometimes combined with work and other activities. At the same time, it has been proven that the best ways to reduce stress and calm your mind are sleep, diet, and exercise. Implement this information into your life and you will absolutely see a difference.