October 7, 2020 | Ontario

Unfortunately, stress and anxiety are parts of everyday life. As a college student, you also have the pressure from studying, assignments, and tests.

With World Mental Health Day taking place on October 10, it’s a good time to think about what you can do to keep things in balance. Here are four easy ways to boost your mental health:

Self-Care

You are a one-of-a-kind person, so it’s important to focus on your unique needs. That’s where self-care comes in.

“Self-care is a regular, intentional process of devoting oneself to protecting and sustaining mental health. It is backed by science and not just feel good, self-indulgent sentiments,” says an article from Psychology Today.

Self-care includes activities such as practicing self-compassion, being with family and friends, getting away from screens, and just relaxing.

Meditation

You don’t need to seclude yourself on a misty mountaintop to get the benefits of meditation. All you need is a bit of time and a quiet setting.

“Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health,” the Mayo Clinic says.

Nutrition

What you eat has a major impact on how you feel. Make sure you’re putting the right things on your plate.

Canada’s Food Guide recommends people consume lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plant-based protein. It also advises that you cook your own meals and eat with others as much as possible.

Exercise

The link between exercise and health is well-established, but how much activity is the right amount?

According to the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology, “To achieve health benefits, adults aged 18-64 should accumulate at least 150 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more.”

However, if that’s too much to handle right now, even getting outdoors for a bit can make a difference.

Your Mental Health Matters

Mental health is an issue for people across Canada. Each year, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association, 20% of people in the country deal with a mental health problem or illness.

That statistic highlights just how important it is to do what we can to take care of our mental health. There’s no better time to start or renew your commitment to self-care, meditation, nutrition, and exercise.