Healthy Habits & Wellness Tips for College Students
Habits and routines save your brain power. When we have habits, it is one less decision to make during the day. We can save our energy for our studies and more important decisions. Here are our top suggestions for creating a morning routine and adding structure to your day!
Make your bed every morning. Do it as soon as you get out of bed. This is a very simple way to start the day in a positive, proactive way. Right off the bat, you have accomplished one thing!
Write down 3 things you are grateful for.
Do 3 minutes of stretching.
Do a short online meditation.
You can find free and paid options for meditation online and through apps. The pros and cons of each can be found here.
Best free guided meditation apps: Insight Timer, UCLA Mindful
Best free guided meditation websites: Smiling Mind, Mindfulness Exercises
Best paid guided meditation websites: Sattva, Yogi Approved
Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.
Ways to foster gratitude that are associated with greater happiness include:
Writing a thank-you note
Reflecting on how much you appreciate certain people in your life
Thanking someone for the little things
Meditating
Keeping a gratitude journal. Our coaches recommend The 5-Minute Gratitude Journal: Give Thanks, Practice Positivity, Find Joy and The Five Minute Journal, Original Daily Gratitude & Reflection Journal.