NAUTI THOUGHTS: BACK TO SCHOOL BLUES

●H A P P Y  W E L L N E S S  W E D N E S D A Y●

If you are like me, going back to school was a blessing and a curse. You were so excited to get back and be reunited with your friends again and catch up on all the summer drama. But then Sunday night rolled around and suddenly you weren't feeling as excited anymore. The though of waking up for 8ams and pulling all nighters studying filled your head and the stress started to build up. 

According to University Health Service- University of Michigan, the top three highest issues college students experience are stress, sleep difficulties, and anxiety. Although this is not necessarily surprising, it is something that needs to be addressed, and with school just starting there is no better time to make a positive change. 

By starting off the school year with a positive attitude it will set the tone for the rest of the school year. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get into good habits at the beginning of the year so you can continue to be successful throughout the year.

CREATE A SCHEDULE

If you are a college student by default you are stressed. It feels like you have no time for anything and it is so difficult to keep track of everything. If I have learned one thing about myself is if I don't write something down, the chances of me remembering are slim to none. This is why I worship my planner. I write everything in there from homework assignments to getting lunch with friends. I have found if I schedule all of the activities I want to do for one day in my planner, hour by hour, my stress level significantly decreases. By scheduling things like studying, going to the gym, eating, class, friends, and of course naps, it helps me feel in control of my life.

SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP

There are endless studies that show our bodies need a significant amount of sleep. With all of the rigor us college students are putting our bodies through it is important to take care of it by fueling it with sleep. Try and create a set time for you to go to bed every night so your body can get used to going to bed at the same time, by doing this, it will become easier for you to fall asleep at night. If you've tried this and it still isn't working for you, I highly recommend sleep mediation. I have recently downloaded a guided sleep mediation app and it has changed my life. Not only do I fall asleep faster but I have found that I actually stay asleep during the night too. 

EXERCISE

 Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce anxiety. Personally, putting in my headphones and running as fast as I can on the treadmill really calms me down. No matter how worked up I am about something, there is nothing a good grind session can't cure. If you just read that and gagged a little bit  because the thought of doing cardio makes you nauseous, never fear yoga is here! Yoga is a fantastic way to reduce anxiety and help you get in a better mindset. Also, having a workout buddy can also help reduce anxiety. By having someone there with you while you are letting out your stress can be very beneficial. 

College is stressful, no one will ever question you about that. How you handle that stress is completely up to you. Make sure you start off this year strong with a positive attitude and a smile on your face.

L I V E  N A U T I 

♡

Ashlyn