Hello and welcome back to Dasha’s Psych Fact and welcome back to school!
I hope everyone had a good and relaxing break. Now, I don’t know about you, but it’s the second week of classes and I am already tired. I didn’t do much over break but work and now I feel it is pretty hard to get back into the swing of things.
Today we are going to talk about some ways to get back on track and into your daily routine while also trying to minimize stress this semester, according to Elite Daily, an online news platform, and my own research and experience.
First, combine what you love to do with what you have to do. One of the best ways to tweak your morning habits and transform them into staple parts of your everyday routine is to combine something you enjoy doing with something that needs to get done. For instance, you can easily combine your morning cup of coffee and the time you spend going through your daily to-dos.
“It can be as simple as a morning ‘coffee routine,’ which involves checking emails and prioritizing tasks for the day ahead,” Dr. Robert Glatter, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, tells Elite Daily.
Next, make your mental and physical health a priority. In a study performed by researchers at North Carolina State University, the results showed that even just one hour of exercise per week can increase the odds of graduating by over 50 percent. I’m sure you’re familiar with the many benefits of exercise, like the fact that it makes you stronger and gives you more energy, but committing to a regular workout routine can also cement our commitment to long-term health.
Third, take a break. Sticking to a routine doesn’t necessarily mean following a strict schedule all day every day. Sometimes it means adopting certain behaviors and implementing them into your day when you need them most like meditation, for example. To ensure the crazy nature of a busy schedule doesn’t get the better of you, try taking a step back for a second and setting an alarm on your phone for 5 to 10 minutes to just sit back, breathe and think about what’s going on for you emotionally.
Fourth, be prepared. The best piece of advice I ever received for how to stay on schedule was to always do what you can the night before to make the next morning run smoothly. This could mean packing your lunch, making a to-do list or picking out the clothes you want to wear the next day. Having a nighttime routine is an excellent example of what we could do to structure our time and routine because it will ultimately set us up for success tomorrow and for the long-term.
Lastly, ask for help. Humans are social creatures, we create communities and make friends in order to feel supported. When life gets you down (and it ultimately will at times in college) it is crucial to reach out for the help you need. Whether it be a friend, a family member or a professional, finding the support you need can greatly benefit your health and happiness. Maybe you just need a little academic support which there are so many resources for around campus such as tutoring, the Academic Enhancement Center, your advisors, teacher’s assistants and the counseling center. That could be the deciding factor between passing and failing a class you need to graduate.