Photos by Brookelyn Davis
Article by Katelyn Martin
NEWBERG, Ore. — We’re in another season of midterms at Fox. Sometimes life feels like a raft in the middle of an ocean, slowly sinking. The second you patch one part of the raft, another starts leaking, until you’re frantically trying to address all these different leaks at once while still keeping yourself afloat.
As a college student, it can be a massive challenge to find the right balance between school, sleep, work and a social life. Whether this is your first year at George Fox University (GFU) or your last, I hope these ten tips will inspire you to improve your mental health, lower stress and succeed as a student:
Find your most productive time during the day and take advantage of it. This won’t be the same for everyone. Some people work best in the morning, some in the afternoon, and others at night. For my entire freshman year, I put work off until the evening, which ended in a lot of late nights where I was too tired to truly focus on my work. Now, I’ve found a rhythm where I stay productive between my classes and devote early evenings to homework. Change up your schedule until you find a time that works for you!
Consult the Academic Resource Center (The ARC). You don’t have to be in a crisis to show up to the ARC and ask for help with writing and homework tips. And it’s free! It’s a low-stakes way to share your writing before you turn it in, get feedback and keep yourself accountable. Plus, they have free coffee, tea and snacks.
Get connected. It sounds so simple when I say it like that, but it can be hard to meet new people in college—especially if you’re spending time shut up in your dorm or hanging out with the same people all the time. A good place to start branching out is right in your dorm or apartment: go to your RA’s events! If events aren’t really your thing, you can always ask an RA if they want to grab coffee or boba downtown (you have no excuse not to, because I can think of at least five good places within walking distance). GFU’s Student Activities team also puts on a ton of events, all listed in their calendar on the GFU website. If it seems intimidating to show up alone, ask someone in your hall or apartment. Chances are they need connection as much as you do.
Call your mom. No, seriously. Find 30 minutes once a week to contact a parent, sibling or friend from home. Maintaining relationships is hard amidst schoolwork and stress, but making time for intentional connection allows you to rest, reset and focus on something positive.
Set boundaries. Once you find your people, balance is essential. As fun as they might be, maybe evening adventures aren’t the best idea every night. If you want to be around people but are drowning in homework, suggest studying together. It’s also great for accountability.
Pay attention to your mental health. The Health and Counseling Center is here for students. If you’re a traditional undergraduate student, short-term counseling is free. You don’t need to be in the middle of a crisis to ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or have academic or interpersonal issues in your life, it wouldn’t hurt to schedule an appointment (even just a one-time check-in) to talk with someone. Also, TimelyCare, a virtual medical and counseling service, is available to GFU students through the George Fox website and Canvas. This resource includes articles, videos and slides with self-care tips, as well as free virtual counseling appointments (up to seven per academic year).
Don’t overcommit yourself. Money can be a huge source of anxiety, especially during college. If you’re balancing a job (or multiple) alongside school, it can help to keep a detailed schedule of your commitments so you can intentionally schedule in rest, studying and social connection. Having a schedule can also help you judge whether adding on another commitment is the right decision.
Eat well and move when you can. I know ramen is tempting, fast and easy, but whenever you can get vegetables, eat them. Being a college student shouldn’t mean completely sacrificing your health. As we’re heading into a long rainy season, it might be a bit less enjoyable to take walks outside, but even a quick walk around your room or building can be just the reset you need.
Sleep! I mean it! And I don’t just mean sleeping in on the weekends. I’m talking about breaking the norm and consistently going to bed before 11 p.m. This won’t work if you don’t find time during the day to work on homework or set boundaries on your social life; it’s all connected. And if you’re not rested enough, it is going to have a negative impact on all other areas of your life. College students should aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Good sleep starts before you get in bed each night, so avoid that last energy drink or coffee in the evening, and resist the temptation to scroll before bed. It makes a big difference!
Celebrate the small wins. You’re in college, and college is hard. Give yourself grace, because it’s not supposed to be easy and you’re not going to get it right the first time. What’s important is that you try your best and surround yourself with people who will support you. If you can find little moments of joy throughout your week, it does a lot.
You may have heard a lot of advice like this before, and maybe even been frustrated at its repetitiveness, but I’m here to tell you that I’m with you.
Small steps are everything, especially if you’re not sure what to prioritize. It takes effort to fight the norm of the overtired and overwhelmed college student. Start by picking one thing to focus on, and the rest will follow. You can do this!
