Four ways you can stay positive during crunch time in College
College doesn’t have to be a turbulent time, but around the end of a semester when final tests and assignments start to stack up, you might begin to feel the squeeze. Since things can sometimes get challenging right about now, I did a bit of research on a few ways to stay positive when classes, homework and the environment get you down. There's a lot of sources online, including articles wikiHow, and Positivity Blog, but there’s also my own experiences that I can speak to. Here’s a few common ways to help keep your head up.
A good dose of self-maintenance, or “Treating Yourself,” goes a long way, even if you have to schedule it
Your mind and your body are linked, so not taking care of one can cause problems with the other. If things have gotten so intense that you're hardly sleeping due to studying, or you're only eating junk food, or you stay in your room and never see the sun, it takes a toll on your body and can make you feel terrible. Taking care of yourself is the first step to self-maintenance and has benefits besides your health. For example, getting a bit of exercise, even just going for a run on one of the treadmills at your campus fitness centre, will release endorphins that will make you feel good. Outside of that, doing something nice for yourself every day, even if it's just watching a few episodes of a show you like when your studying is done, can give you something to look forward to at the end of that day. No one can always be on the job, so time off is essential, even if you need to specifically book time in your schedule to do so.
There is always an upshot, you just need to find it
Even when times are tough, it's possible to find the positive in a negative situation. If you make a mistake, or fail at something, instead of dwelling on it, ask yourself: “What's good about this situation?” “What's the opportunity for me here?” or more importantly, “What have I learned for the future?” I've personally found that the worst-case scenario is “do I get a story to tell out of this?” Another good idea is to actively keep track of the positive things in your life, so you can think of them during the negative moments. Some people keep journals or lists of the good things. It can provide a bright spot in stressful times.
Surround yourself with supportive people (and cut the negative ones out)
Your environment influences you, and that includes the people in it. This is why making friends in college is important, and why getting away from the computer screen is an essential first step. Your peers influence you, so you have to make sure those peers are positive. More importantly, if they're only bringing you down, you owe it to yourself to keep away. It may sound unusual, but it frees you up to spend more time with the positive people in your life, and placing yourself in an environment with positive people will help lift your own mood. As long as you're managing your time, goofing around with your friends isn't a waste. It's good for you and important, and you can always, say, start a study group if you want to keep on-task.
Use what the college has to offer
There’s an entire section, right here, about all the health and wellness resources at Centennial College, and that includes mental health. I could say more, but really, just have a look and see if there’s anything you didn’t know is available to you.
Like all chapters in your life, it'll be finished one day, so make the most of it
Two, three or four years later, you'll be out of college with a credential on your resume. Some people will read that and say that it means if you're not liking school, it will be over soon. But I see it differently. Since it isn't the rest of your life, but a few years, wouldn't you rather spend that bit of time having the best experience you can? To me, that's the most important piece of advice: Have the best time you can while you're learning. Hopefully, some of these positive thoughts can help make sure your journey is a pleasant one.
By Anthony Geremia