When I first came to the University of Idaho, I wasn’t worried about myself. I took a gap year between high school and college, a time during which I focused on better managing my anxiety. I went to counseling, I learned how to cook, I became a better communicator. I would be fine. During my first year in Moscow, I wasn’t worried about myself — but I should have.
Instead of worrying about the parties I was going to or the boy I was seeing or the amount of praise I received for my academic work, I should have worried about whether I was eating enough vegetables and drinking enough water, whether I was sleeping regularly and making time for myself. Throughout my first year, I let my physical and mental health fall by the wayside. I came to college so con dent in my natural ability to take care of myself that I stopped actively prioritizing me. I’m not unique in this, either.
A survey from the American College Health Association found although students reported suffering from significant bouts of anxiety and depression, only 12 percent of those students went to counseling.
Beyond that, according to the National Data on Campus Suicide and Depression as cited by USA Today, 49.5 percent of students surveyed reported feeling hopeless in the past year, and 60.5 percent of students reported feeling lonely.
College is an exceptionally exciting experience in which students have the chance to grow personally and professionally. But there’s also a tremendous amount of pressure on both new and returning students, who are expected to eat well, stay hydrated, be socially successful and excel academically while being involved in clubs and organizations that will help them break into their eld after graduation.
All of this pressure is added on top of an already stressful situation — leaving home for the rst time. In ad- dition to these high societally- imposed expectations, many students struggle with homesickness and tight nances. College provides an environment in which students can strive to be their best selves and make life-long friends and professional connections. College also provides an environment in which students can develop anxiety and depression, among other mental health disorders.
Regardless of how well-adjusted or prepared a student might be, no one is immune to the social and academic pressures of university life. One of the most valuable steps a student can take is to prioritize themselves, even if that means taking an absence that might count against their grade or being late to work because they took the time to eat a well-balanced meal.
While skipping a meal or getting only a couple of hours of sleep for the sake of prioritizing other responsibilities might not seem like a big deal every once in a while, these actions become compounded over time, making it difficult for students to stay motivated.
It’s also important to remember that taking a personal health day doesn’t always have to mean sacrificing something else, like class attendance points.
If you’re beginning to feel overwhelmed, reach out to your professors about being granted assignment exten- sions or taking a personal health day. It’s okay to be honest with instructors, and it’s okay to admit that you might be struggling.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to access free mental and physical health resources available on campus. Marissa Rudley, the UI campus dietitian, provides nutrition counseling and helps students learn more about developing consistent and healthy eating habits. The Student Recreation Center is a facility in which students can stay active in a variety of capacities, and it also offers programs that expose students to different types
of physical exercise. The UI Counseling and Testing Center provides counseling services, as well as other self-help resources.
When students don’t take care of themselves it negatively impacts their ability to learn and grow as humans, ultimately making for a less enriching college experience. Prioritizing yourself might not always be easy, but it will always be worth it.
Corrin Bond can be reached at [email protected]