Life for the typical college student is hectic, busy and stressful; often times our basic needs and our self-care falls to the wayside; like eating regular, healthy meals or getting enough sleep or keeping our bodies active and fit. These things are vital to our overall life satisfaction, yet they are usually the first things to go when life gets stressful!

Many of the resources on this site, like stress management, life balance, time management, could be helpful to you in enhancing your general wellness.

There are a few general tips that can help you to maintain and improve your overall wellness:

Eat: Exercise: Sleep: Stress management: Life balance: Relaxation: Free-time: Self-care: Friends/family: Hobbies: Hard work:

Working hard towards a goal or to complete a task provides you with healthy stress. It will also provide you with a sense of satisfaction and a self-confidence boost when you reach your goal or complete the task. Taking time to participate in an activity or creative outlet that is just for you is important to nurturing your mind as well as your soul. It is easy to neglect these activities, but it is so much more rewarding when you include them in your life regularly. Your family, friends and the other significant people in your life are important and worth making time for. Time spent with your support network is a key to maintaining your overall quality of life and to reducing your stress. Your first priority is to yourself. Taking care of your basic needs is important and it is okay to take some time out for just you to relax and recharge. You will only be able to be as good to others as you are to yourself. Taking time to do the things you love and enjoy is just as important as taking time to complete tasks and assignments: balance is the key. There are some great relaxation techniques to help reduce the stress and tension in your environment. Taking time out to take care of yourself by relaxing is a great way to help you feel happy, healthier and more like you! Maintaining balance in your life between school, work, family, friends and other areas of importance is key in preserving your overall quality of life Working to keep your stress levels low everyday will have a ton of positive effects including, feeling better, increased focus, sounder sleep and healthier body. Physical activity is great for your body, and great for your mind. Exercise has been proven to increase the release of stress related hormones, and it has been proven to fight off illnesses. Exercise is also great for helping to improve your overall mood. College students are generally tired all the time, but getting enough sleep is essential to your overall wellness. Not only does it allow your body to recharge, but it allows your brain to retain the information it has taken in during that day-you work hard in class, so let your brain have the time to solidify what you've learned! Eating regular, healthy meals will help keep you focused, in a good mood, and will also keep you healthier and feel better overall.

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Here are some ideas that may help you navigate through any challenges you may be facing that are interfering with you overall wellness:

If you are in a situation in which you are responding in a negative way remember to HALT:

Stop and ask yourself.........

Are you hungry?
Eating regular meals helps us keep your blood sugar levels balanced, and maintaining that balance can be a key factor in maintaining a positive mood. When you are hungry, you are much more likely to be irritable and reactive in situations that you may otherwise be able to handle more calmly. Consider stepping back from the situation, having a snack and returning when you feel satiated.

Are you angry?
When you have felt angry in the past, you may have noticed you might not have been able to think as clearly as you could when you are feeling calm. In situations where emotions run high, the part of the brain responsible for logical reasoning takes a backseat to the part of the brain that is more reactive and self-protective. In moments of anger, it is important to recognize when you may need to take a time out. Time outs are necessary when we feel like we can no longer rationally (or safety) handle a situation; it is okay to walk away, clear your mind and come back to the situation when you are better able to respond to it.

Are you feeling lonely?
Check in with yourself: Did someone hurt your feelings? Are you feeling scared or vulnerable? When feelings like this come up, acting out in defensive ways is a normal response to not feeling safe and secure. Ask yourself what it would take for you to feel safe and secure in the situation and try to move towards that.

Are you tired?
Sleep is very important to your health and influential to your overall mood. If you haven't gotten enough sleep, you may tend to be more irritable and more prone to interpreting situations in a negative way. Pay attention to how tired or worn out you may be feeling and if possible, put off potentially stressful or difficult encounters until you are better rested.