Creating a Balance

During your college experience, it is important to strive to maintain a balance of these important areas:
Emotional, Mental, Environmental, and Physical.

Emotional

• Recognize when your emotions affect your body
• Express your needs, feelings and opinions appropriately
• Use humor to defuse negative thoughts or situations
• Use journal writing to relieve stress and express your thoughts
• Talk to a trusted friend or family member and vent
• Give and receive lots of hugs
• Be optimistic - believe in yourself and your abilities
• If you are feeling overwhelmed, make an appointment with a professional healthcare provider

Mental

• Find outlets that are intellectually stimulating
• Engage in conversation with those around you
• Expose yourself to books, magazines, and worldly events that are intriguing
• Set and meet realistic goals academically, personally, and professionally
• Take advantage of opportunities that may offer you different experiences
• Decide on things that help you relax and do them
• Relaxation techniques can help you momentarily escape from your day - try visualization, yoga, or meditation
• Deep breathing can help the mind-body connection
• Spoil yourself after completing a goal

Environmental

• Appreciate and respect the environment
• Do your part to preserve and improve environmental conditions
• Have a place that you can go to relax, chill out
• Whether it's at home or work, have a welcoming space for you and others to feel comfortable in
• Colors can be a great way to spice up an area - decide which ones light your fire!
• Reduce noise and pollution such as secondhand smoke, etc.
• Keep yourself and others safe - like buckling up

Physical

• Get a physical exam
• Be consistent with self-exams like BSE/TSE
• For women: gynecological exam
• Current immunizations
• Regular exercising
• Balanced meals
• Dental and eye exams
• Limit or avoid alcohol and tobacco
• Get a massage to ease tired and worked muscles
• Get a group of friends together and play a sport or do something active

Social

• Develop relationships where both parties feel good
• Able to interact with others in public and private situations
• Comfortable adapting to various social settings
• Can stick to values and beliefs without being persuaded by peer pressure
• Join clubs to expand your social network, it's a great way to not only get involved but to also meet new people that share your same interests
• Read the newspaper - you will be amazed with all of the events happening on and off campus

Spiritual

• Nourish yourself through personal beliefs, morals and/or religion
• Feel connected with one's self and others
• Find purpose in life
• Find meaning in the little things you do everyday
• Develop a philosophy of life that you want to live by