Creating and maintaining healthy habits is the key to your success at UC San Diego and beyond. When life gets stressful, it’s easy to fall into negative spirals that lead to those painful late-night worries about Canvas updates and future career plans. Work a few of these helpful habits into your lifestyle to create the positive changes you want to see.
- Clear the clutter, clear the mind
No matter what you’re studying for, a cluttered workspace will not set you up to be your most productive self. Clothing strewn across the floor and dirty dishes piling up can subconsciously overwhelm your brain with extra sensory input and make it hard for the brain to focus. Keep a running checklist of items to clean up throughout the day. Three nights a week, set aside half an hour to tidy everything on your checklist. To make the process more fun, create small rewards for every week you complete all of the tasks. Some of my favorites include a boba trip or a new piece for my wardrobe.
- Fuel up and drink smart
When your memory, body, and brain are fueled right, it’s easier to take on even the hardest assignments. A balanced diet is crucial for keeping your body at peak performance. It is equally important to stay hydrated! Not drinking enough water can cause symptoms like “brain fog,” so make sure you bring a water bottle to your classes. Although eating healthy can feel inaccessible sometimes, start with small steps. Try to be conscious of the meals you pick throughout the day, such as rethinking that Celsius and a bag of chips for lunch, opting for healthier options in the dining halls, and avoiding processed snacks. Working on a budget or living in a dorm room with limited access to a fully-equipped kitchen? Check out these nutritious mug meals for convenient ways to eat healthy!
- Avoid the monster under the bed: Your laptop
To have a clear mind ready to take on the day, the average adult needs to get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. As college students, this sometimes feels impossible, but inconsistent sleep adds up, and it can be hard to recover; you can’t just sleep well for one or two nights to “make up” for all the hours you missed. To get all the sleep you need, romanticize your nighttime routine with exciting additions like an under-eye mask, calming music, or a cup of floral tea. Try setting boundaries with your coursework, like a daily deadline to step away from your screen. It can also be good to try yoga or stretching before bed to help release the day’s pent-up stress.
- Focus on daily progress to avoid the panic
Fighting procrastination takes a lot of discipline and hard work, but your future self will thank you. Make sure you know all important dates and deadlines, and put them on a calendar or — my personal favorite — a physical planner. Create lists to check off assignments and track your progress, and add specific time blocks in your calendar for studying or completing assignments. Finishing the easier tasks earlier rather than later can help you feel accomplished and give you more time for those time-consuming essays and projects. Studies have also shown that a “distributive practice” — studying for 15- to 30-minute periods for each class daily — is highly effective for retaining information long term. This work is tedious, but your efforts will pay off!
- Make sure to choose you, too
At the end of the day, your physical and mental health come first. The stresses of college life can make it easy to forget to take care of yourself, but healthy habits — even small ones — can make a world of difference. Also, adopting a positive mindset can help ease depressive or anxious thoughts, allowing yourself to focus on what is in front of you rather than being stuck in your head. Hobbies or fun activities are great ways to escape the stresses of classes! Things like picking up an instrument, taking a class at the Craft Center, daily journaling, creative writing, and trying a new sport are all good ideas. Make time each week to see your friends and exercise. Locking yourself in a room to work on homework day and night isn’t a healthy way to live, so make sure to get out and live a little.
Even though the quarter has already begun, it’s never too late to make a change in your life! With some discipline, your hard work will pay off in the long run. Remember that a grade doesn’t define who you are or who you will be, and you are always capable of accomplishing something great. Have faith in yourself, celebrate each achievement, and become a person you’re proud of.
Need someone to talk to about life or feel stuck where you are right now? Don’t be afraid to talk to someone — remember that you are never alone. Check out UCSD’s mental health services to get you back on track to wherever you are going.
