Expressing feelings of gratitude everyday can transform your life by improving your mental health, physical health, and emotional well-being. Click the link below to watch my vlog where I talk about three things I do everyday to cultivate an attitude of gratitude in my life!
Everyone has heard the old platitude that college is the time to ‘find yourself’. However, three years ago, I started school at Louisiana State University thinking I’d already had it all figured out. Now that I’m in my senior year at LSU, I realize what I think I had known the whole time: you never really figure yourself out because you are constantly growing, changing, and evolving into the person you want to be. That being said, I’ve gained a lot of clarity over the years. While I can’t imagine what it’s like to start college in the midst of a pandemic, I can impart some wisdom I’ve gained and offer advice to freshmen for the road ahead.
Firstly, you should really listen to that old cliché and take this time to find yourself. This statement is broad and not easily applied, but there are numerous ways you can go about this. Take time to figure out what makes you tick. Take classes that you find interesting, not because it helps you get your degree but because you want to learn something new. Some of my favorite classes at LSU have been the ones that don’t have much to do with my major but push me to think deeper and discuss new topics and ideas with classmates and friends. Take advantage of events and activities your university offers to freshmen; I met some of my best friends this way. It may look different this year, but that brings me to my next point.
You should intentionally go out of your comfort zone. The best way to learn about yourself and what makes you tick is to constantly open yourself to new opportunities for growth. If an idea excites you and scares you, roll with it. You’d be surprised how much happier and fulfilled you will feel when you take advantage of the opportunities presented to you. Join clubs. Get involved with your professors and classmates. You can even take a dance class. (I did this a few times, and let me tell you, as an entirely unrhythmic dancer with disproportionally long legs, it is one the most terrifying and exhilarating things I’ve done in college). The point is not that you do any one particular thing but that you try to go beyond what you already know.
Broadening your scope of experience can be scary. I know it was for me. My next piece of advice is a big one: don’t be afraid to fail. Throughout my life, I’ve always been a perfectionist. So much so, that I’ve been tempted to not try certain things on numerous occasions in order to maintain my sense of self. But that’s no way to live. The times I’ve failed have taught me more about myself and what I want out of life than the times I was succeeding at everything I was doing.
The single best piece of advice I can give you is to go with your gut. In other words, trust yourself. What I’ve learned in college is that you should only ever make decisions for yourself and not for other people. Be kind and compassionate but do what’s right for you. Don’t let anyone else tell you what is right for you because you know yourself best. Now is your time to figure out what you want to do with your life, but do so at your own pace.
Remember, there’s a season for everything; don’t beat yourself up if things don’t look like how you want them to in the present moment. Just keep pushing yourself. You CAN do it. You have made it through everything else in your life up until this point, and you will make it through this too. I wish you all the best of luck.
Life in college can be hectic. We have to balance not only our classes, jobs, and extracurriculars, but also a social life, sleep, self-care, and so much more. How you start the day determines how the rest of your day goes. Every morning I make time for these essential steps to begin my day with intention, minimize unnecessary stress, and ensure my success throughout the entire day. Here are four key steps I take to help guarantee that I have an amazing day, every day.
The best morning routines start with a good evening routine. I always check my calendar to see what needs to be done the next day and plan for the day ahead by writing my to-do list as well as a loose schedule for the next day. By looking at what needs to be done the day before and scheduling out my time for the next day, I’m able to start my morning with a sense of purpose and determination.
The first thing I do when I wake up is to express gratitude for the day ahead. Expressing gratitude has a crazy amount of benefits, and saying thanks first thing sets the tone for the day. Gratitude makes you more optimistic, gives you more energy, helps you relax, increases your productivity, and so much more. Every morning I am thankful that I’m alive, I’m thankful for a brand new day ahead. Expressing gratitude is definitely the best part of my morning routine and the easiest to execute every day.
Hydration is extremely important. Water is literally the key to life. Overly hydrating first thing in the morning helps you wake up quickly and get started on your day. It completely re-energizes your brain and your body. Class can get hectic and sometimes staying hydrated can be difficult. Drinking first thing in the morning sets you up to be more hydrated and healthy throughout the day.
Morning pages are a method of journaling from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. This technique involves three pages of longhand stream-of-consciousness writing as soon as you wake up. There is no right way to do morning pages. Write whatever comes to mind. I love the opportunity to dump all of my random thoughts and feelings on paper. Since beginning the practice, I’ve felt less stressed and more focused throughout the day.
Getting your day right when you first open your eyes will keep you feeling happy and content. Not every day will be perfect, but making it the best it can be will put you in the best position possible!
