March is Mental Health Awareness month, meaning it’s the perfect time to reflect on the ways we can take care of ourselves. 

Halfway through the semester, things get stressful and we often forget about self-care, patience, and the little things that put a smile on our faces. UA senior Jordan Rodriguez says, “Mental health is the capacity to enjoy your life”.

So, if you are feeling in a rut or just need some new ideas to help you get to the finish line of the semester, check out this list of UA students’ favorite ways to care for their mental health:

Journal

The best way to relieve consuming thoughts is with a pen and paper. The privacy of a journal is easing, and putting your thoughts into words can help you find solutions, think of your life more logically and realize exceptional things about yourself. 

“If your life is running by really quickly and it feels like you don’t have a handle on anything, just writing anything down—it doesn’t need to be a complicated system—is a really good way to ground yourself, understand what’s happening in your life, understand your own thoughts and face them more directly.” Rodriguez said. 

Open your notebook and write about whatever is on your mind at that moment. Just see where it takes you, you’ll be surprised at the revelations you create. There aren’t any rules to journaling… well, maybe one: be honest with yourself. 

Get enough sleep

You’ve got to study for that exam, you’ve got to write that paper– but you’ve got to be rested in order to do all that. 

Sleep is the foundation for our well being; it aids in restoring our bodies for the hours of typing, reading, and studying we do every day. Sacrificing sleep may seem like a fool-proof method to winning more time, but it isn’t sustainable, nor is it actually helping you. 

An article written by Erica Granillo, LCSW of the University of Arizona reminds us that good  sleep should be a top priority during a stressful semester, as it supports our memory retrieval and ability to cope with stress.

For Fay Garcia, mental health is directly tied to physical health. Substantial rest is her number one secret to juggling a double major in Computer Science and Math. “Above everything, sleep nine hours a night, eat three meals a day, and move for at least thirty minutes,” said Garcia.

Lay in the grass

The University of Arizona was named one of the greenest university campuses in the nation according to the 2024 Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges.  

Such a beautiful campus deserves to be enjoyed. And you deserve to enjoy it! 

Some UA students’ favorite spots to indulge in the green are the places we see everyday: the lawn outside of the Arizona State Museum, the hill of grass near the Student Union, or simply anywhere on The Mall (the large strip of grass in the middle of campus). 

With busy schedules, it’s normal to abandon the time we give ourselves for outdoor pastime activities. However, the warmth of the Arizona sun, the fresh air and the sight of passersby is one of the most relaxing and inexpensive ways to spend breaks between classes. 

Try to find a sliver of time in your day to read, meditate or just lay in the grass. Even if it’s during your lunch; grab a to-go box, take it outside and feel how the earth relieves your stress. 

Find a new creative outlet

Journaling isn’t your thing? That’s okay, maybe it’s drawing, playing the guitar, or dancing. 

Although it may seem contradictory, putting a pin in a stressful routine to try something new is beneficial to your academic endurance. 

UA biochemistry major, Joshua Mahar swears by Salvador Dalí’s drawing process as a method for reflecting on his mental health. Mahar says, “[Dalí] would paint without thinking about it, and then reflect on what he painted to have a better understanding of himself, which is what I like to do… I use that as a window to what’s going on in my life.” 

Experiment with your creativity! Art is a fantastic way to convert life’s tensions into something visual or self-comprehensible. Scrapbooking, origami or even putting together puzzles are some great places to start. 

Treat yourself

The most important part of self-care is self-recognition. At the end of the day, it’s healthy to focus on what you did achieve rather than what you didn’t. You can promote this optimistic approach by rewarding yourself with your favorite indulgences. 

You don’t have to throw an extravagant blowout for every assignment you complete, but you deserve to be treated for your hard work!

Sit down for a cup of coffee at Espresso Art Café. Go out dancing at The Maverick. Or just snuggle up and rewatch your favorite romantic comedy with a big bowl of popcorn in your lap…

All our mental health asks of us is ease, so take a deep breath and remember that it’s the little things we do for ourselves that mean the most.