As a leading behavioral change expert I am committed to sharing tools to help college students ditch the drama and enjoy more positive vibes.
Let’s face it, college life can be a rollercoaster. Between exams, social pressures, and figuring out your whole future, negativity and confusion can creep in fast.
But, despite all the pressure, college is a time of learning, and forging new meaningful connections and memories. It is a time for self-discovery and knowing your capabilities.
So, giving up is not an option, even when you’re facing the toughest of times or emotions.
I’m writing this article because I am the bestselling relationship author of the book Prince Harming Syndrome – which was recommended on Oprah. Plus I also founded the therapist recommended self-paced program: Broken Heart Recovery Course.
We’re about to break down in 5 minutes, 10 ways in which you can shield your aura and embrace nothing but positive vibes as a college student.
Once upon a time before you went to college, you had hobbies and things you loved to do. Maybe you loved teaching English to younger ESL learners. Or maybe you spent your time volunteering at a local church or youth camp.
The academic grind can get you on a constant mood tumble. From unfinished assignments and impromptu lectures to exams that you worked your rear for but still flunked.
Try your best to go back to the things you love and care about once in a while. Sometimes, that might require a good amount of time on your hands. Let expert writers such as royalwriter.co.uk help you out with the backlog as you take a breather to engage in a passion project.
More importantly, be passionate about your studies as this will be the fuel to your fire, and give you long-term momentum.
College is undoubtedly a place of discovering new friendships, some with people who are totally unlike yourself. That’s one of the beauties of college – that you can have one big mash-up of people from different backgrounds in one place.
However, some friendships leave us feeling drained, sort of like taking more of their fair share than they give.
For example, some friends have little to no respect for our personal property, values, or even personal space. Or maybe it’s that friend who is constantly passive-aggressive, negative, or venting about their breakups. It could be a lot of things.
Be quick to set boundaries and limit time with these emotional vampires. It’s okay to create a safe space for yourself where it’s only you alone. Be friendly even as you join campus, but be discerning about the kinds of friends you make. Prioritize people who uplift and inspire you!
Social media is fun, and there’s always something new to laugh about or some new story to enjoy. But let’s be honest, some online content reeks of pure negativity.
Social media can easily get addictive, with every free minute spent scrolling through endless feeds. Not only is social media addictive, but it can lead to a constant cycle of comparing yourself to everyone else. Remember that much of what you see on social media is fake, or not entirely true. Therefore, healthily use social media and set limits beyond which you can escape any toxicity online.
Remember to block, mute, or unfollow any accounts that tend to dampen your day. Curate your feed with accounts that inspire, motivate, or make you laugh.
In the world that we live in today, it can be difficult to stay thankful, with all the negative things going on around us.
Also, students come from different backgrounds and go through different experiences that shape their outlook on life.
Gratitude is shaped by how see the glass – whether it’s half full or half empty to them.
If you look around, you’ll realize you have plenty to be thankful for. Just the fact that you made it into a college or university is something to be thankful for. Let gratitude shape your interactions with people and situations. You’ll see it work wonders for you.
Mindfulness is the ability to be present and aware of your situation or circumstance. When we encounter a setback or are going through a rut, it is quite easy to forget that the situation is temporary. Suddenly, you are making bad decisions, going into negative habits, or even getting into trouble.
Mindfulness requires that you remind yourself that what you are going through is temporary. It is just a mistake, a hitch, a lesson, a setback for the moment and time. That kind of attitude will cultivate and nurture the positivity in you.
For those experiencing a random moment where suddenly everything is falling apart, let’s say panic attacks, mindfulness techniques like meditation and deep breathing can help.
An effective way of getting a quick positivity boost is to exercise or take up a fun physical activity. That releases endorphins, nature’s feel-good chemicals.
Go for a run, join a dance class, or simply take a walk in the park. Get your body moving and watch your mood soar. If you are too shy to do it in public then find yourself a comfortable mat and exercise in your dorm room.
Some things are easier said than done, especially when you are on a downer. But if you can open a funny YouTube video or even catch a stand-up skit, you might be halfway there. Or, you could find that one person who always cracks you up and have you a tete-a-tete.
Talk to a family member, a friend, or even someone who truly understands you like a better half. Laugh with them even if you share the not-so-nice parts of your stories.
A lack of good sleep might be the reason why half the world walks around cranky and in a bad mood. If you went to bed the previous night feeling bad, imagine what lack of proper sleep would do to you the next morning.
The numbers officially state 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night. We’re not sleep specialists here, but a more grounded suggestion would be to sleep until you feel well-rested, however many hours it might be. On one particular day and circumstance, you might need nine, and on another, you might only need 5five or six.
Remember, a well-rested you is a positive you!
This might be the hardest thing for anyone, let alone an untethered and entitled college student, to do.
What if they cut that knife so deep in you could feel it cold in your bones? The pain was too deep, the heartbreak too raw and real…
The thing with forgiveness is that it is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t fret over a lover, a friend, or even family who betrayed you, at least not for longer than the time it takes for your tears to dry. Holding onto grudges weighs you down, and is the mantra of the negativity frat.
Learn to forgive consciously (ergo mindfulness). Let go of your mistakes and those of others as you realize that no one can be perfect. It’s not about condoning or putting up with their actions but freeing yourself from negativity.
They wise opine that the good that you put out into the universe comes back in massive and miraculous ways. Share your positivity with others! Compliment someone, volunteer in your community, or even smile and say hello to a stranger. All that without expecting anything in return.
Spreading kindness is guaranteed to boost your happiness and make the world a brighter place. ✨
You might have noticed that all the tools and strategies covered here are free to implement. They don’t cost you a thing and you don’t need to mortgage anything to benefit from them.
From going back to your hobby, sharing a good laugh with a friend, or even practicing mindfulness, these 10 lessons should carry you in your college quest. Good luck and always spread the positivity!
Check out my bestselling audio and video program: “The Broken Heart Recovery Course!”
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