Are you constantly overwhelmed with your to-do lists, extracurricular activities, AND trying to balance a social life? Trust me, I get it! So, here are my top tips for staying sane during the school year, despite all the busyness! These 10 habits will help you to master your self-care helping you to be more productive and focused when needed and happier when you don't have to be studying or working!
So, keep reading for 10 Self-Care Habits Every Stressed-Out College Girl Needs in Her Routine. 🙂
1. daily quiet time
Spend quiet time in reflection, prayer, or studying God's word. I truly believe this is the most critical part of your dad because it reframes your thinking to remind you that we aren't put on this Earth to serve ourselves and earn treasures for our own gain, but to go and tell others of God's goodness and live for Him alone.
If you're unsure where to begin, start by either journaling or praying out loud. Prayer doesn't have to be formal; just have a conversation with Him.
2. Do a morning/nightly brain dump
If you find yourself getting overwhelmed, then do a brain dump of everything you have to do, where you need to go, who you need to see, and so on. Something about making a physical to-do list of my priorities always calms down my overthinking. And if you're Type A like me, then I know you will appreciate the dopamine that comes from checking something off a to-do list! 🙂
You can do this in the morning before you start your day or at night to prepare for the next day.
I LOVE using Google Keep for this. Pictured above is exactly how I organize my to-do lists to get everything out of my brain and live a less-stressed life. (notice I didn't say stress-free...lol!) This is something I do daily, but you can easily do it as needed when you feel stressed.
3. Give yourself time to leisurely wake up and get ready in the morning
Allow yourself more time than you think you need to get ready each morning, so you don't have to rush wherever you need to go. That way, you're able to wake up, have your quiet time, slowly sip your coffee, make a yummy breakfast, spend time picking out an outfit you feel good in, and so on.
This is one of those romanticizing your life things that I genuinely love and has changed my life. This starts your day off on the right foot and can genuinely set the tone for your whole day, if not whole week! Just give it a try!
4. Treat school like a 9-5
Treat school like a job; look at it as going to work from 9 to 5 every day. You need to accomplish all your most important tasks within this 9-to-5 timeframe. Everything else gets pushed to the next "work day".
This will help you to have a healthy school-life balance. This gives you time to do the things you enjoy, spend time with your loved ones, and still accomplish your most important tasks. Obviously, this is idealistic and won't be plausible every day, BUT trying to make this part of your routine will truly affect how you go through your day.
I would often turn down dinner plans with friends, have to excuse myself from socializing, or arrive late to big events because I was so focused on just checking things off my to-do list. As a chronic to-do lister, it reminded me that it is equally important to relax and enjoy life as it is to work hard. If this sounds anything like you, give this mindset a try!
5. perfect your bedtime routine (without your phone!)
Experiment with your bedtime routine to find the perfect one for your body & wellness. Figure out how your body unwinds best, whether that's reading a book, talking with your roommate, or sipping some tea and journaling. BUT make sure to put your phone away at least 30 minutes before bed. Trust me, I know this is hard; it's something I'm still working on myself, but just try your best!
6. Drink water before coffee
Coffee, while providing caffeine, dehydrates the body. Drinking at least one glass of water before coffee can help prevent your body from becoming dehydrated and experiencing a caffeine crash later.
TIP: Try adding lemon to your water for a refreshing & delicious morning water! And even better it helps your digestion!
7. Set a timer to do a quick declutter of your space
Set a timer for about 30 minutes and do a quick declutter & tidying of your space. This is one of my favorite
Do this and focus on one task at a time. First, remove all the trash from the room. Then, make the bed. Next, select a specific section of your room to focus on. For example, tidy your desk, put everything away, and then move on to your closet and bathroom. This will help you get things done faster by staying focused and setting these mini goals.
8. Make a schedule for cleaning, laundry, everything, showers, etc.
Actually, schedule time for self-care and time to take care of your space so you don't get stressed.
For example, plan to do laundry every other Sunday, deep clean on the first Saturday of each month, and take at least one everything shower per week to pamper yourself!
I highly recommend using Google Calendar to time block your weeks!
9. Make different "focus" DND settings for different things
Create separate Do Not Disturb settings for different purposes. That is one of my favorite features about Apple phones! For example, I have one for the gym, class, studying, and cleaning.
This allows you to customize which notifications appear on your phone in various places, helping you be more productive and distracted less, which will ultimately improve your mental health & wellness.
10. Do at least one thing just for fun, weekly.
As a chronic type A girl & busy college student, this can be hard for me sometimes...so I get it! However, it is essential to relax and take time to enjoy yourself, so I encourage you to adopt this habit.
I hope this post helped give you some practical self-care habits that you can implement to reduce your stress and help you manage your time & wellness well.
With Love,
Isabella XO
