Being a college student is one of the busiest and stressful times in someone’s life. The world seems to be moving at hyper-speed, and sometimes it feels as though you can barely keep up. Having to juggle a full class schedule, work and extracurriculars is hard! Nonetheless, finding time for yourself is so important to your mental health, so here are some tips to help you:

1. Time Management
Managing your time well is super important. The more time you dedicate to getting the necessary things done, the more time you have to yourself! Try a time management app and be realistic. Don’t give yourself unreasonable deadlines.

2. Use your free time wisely
Having time by “yourself” doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be alone for it. You could spend time with friends, curl up with a good book, or even take a nap. Just don’t waste it when you’ve got it.

3. Embrace your commute
Most of the time, people have their faces buried in their phones while on the bus or have music blasting while walking around campus. These opportunities can be used to have some quiet time alone with your thoughts in a noisy world.

4. Wake up early
The prospect of waking up 30 minutes earlier everyday is not what a college student wants to hear, but it is a great idea. Having 30 extra minutes in the morning, whether it be lying in bed, scrolling on TikTok or going for a morning jog, helps you get a jump start on your day and extra “me-time”.

5. Know when to say “no”
Sometimes all I want to do is be with my friends, but there are some instances when saying yes will do more harm than good. If you are feeling burnt out or overwhelmed, don’t talk yourself into something you don’t want to do. You’ll be better off in the long run for prioritizing yourself.