Reilly's Ramblings

School has just started, the homework has started to pile up, and the stress level is already at brain-melting. It’s only the middle of September.

Students are dealing with a million things at once. They are trying to do everything in a 24-hour time frame but can’t. Cramming homework is not helping with their stress levels.

Stress is one of the most significant problems for students. Pressure can be around for one week to an entire semester or school year. Some students find a way to relieve stress.

Abby Koch, a sophomore but has junior status at Morningside College; says this week is “throwing off other things that relieve stress, like having to skip working out, which take away stress.”

Abby is taking 16 credits this semester, on the women’s golf team and is the social media chair of Alpha Lambda Delta or ALD and a part of ODK.

Katie McClintock, a second-semester junior at Morningside, says that “each day is its own struggle like yesterday was good, today not so much.”

Katie is taking 12 credits this semester and is involved in Campus Ministries, Christ Connections, and Morningside Activities Council, also known as MAC.

Many health issues come with going to school. Inadequate nutrition, lack of sleep, anxiety, depression, and not enough exercise are some of the big problems.

The mental and physical health and well-being of a student are essential to survive a school semester to even a school year.

Katie suffers from both anxiety and depression. She says that “putting yourself first is of the best things for yourself.”

She also said that “mental health is very important and should be one of your top priorities.”

For Abby, she talks it out with her mom is how she stays mentally healthy. She says, “Bottling it up creates anxiety, and it just steeps and just moves around. If I don’t talk it out, it drives me to a point to curl up into a ball and not do anything.”

The question is how someone can be able to focus on their health while dealing with school and other activities at the same time? The answer comes in three different parts.

Carol Garvey, the campus nurse at Morningside, said that “The body wants three things in a day. It wants proper nutrition, sleep — enough sleep, and movement every day.” She also adds that this pertains not just to women but also for men too.

Nutrition is also a critical factor in keeping a body and mind healthy. According to 4collegewomen.org, the Food Pyramid is a simple, reliable way to plan a nutritious eating pattern and is an outline of what to eat each day.

Carol says that late night eatings to Taco Bell or Perkins, staying up late and alcohol affects the sleeping pattern. She also says, “Eat a little bit from every food group every day.”

Katie usually has a protein bar on the go every day for breakfast. She says that “your body is a temple so what you put in is what you get out.”

Sleep helps the brain relax and reenergize for the next day. If someone doesn’t get enough sleep, the mind will not function as well as it would with good night sleep.

According to affordablecollegesonline.org, younger adults between the ages of 18 and 25 need seven to nine hours of sleep per night.

Carol says that it is a badge of honor for college students to have less sleep and be busier. She also said, “Shut your phones off and give yourself six to eight hours of no phones and sleep.”

Katie only gets around seven to eight hours of sleep every night. She says, “It depends on if you are anxious or have racing thoughts or scary dreams.”

Abby sleeps on an average of six hours sleep a night. She says, “Not getting that [enough sleep] will throw me off my academic game.”

For movement, the best thing to do here at Morningside is to walk to class and school, not driving. If someone has anxiety or depression, then increase the number of steps taken in a day.

Carol said, “Go above the normal activity. Take a ten-minute walk by yourself or with a friend. Ten minutes a day is a good start.”

According to youngwomenshealth.org, try to include aerobic exercises like running, muscle strengthening exercises like weight training, and stretching activities like yoga in your daily routine. The website also suggests that there should be 60 minutes of exercise each day.

Katie goes to the gym every day and usually goes for at least 30 minutes, but she tries to be there for an hour or an hour and a half, to even two hours.

But what is the easiest way for college women to get advice about their health besides their campus nurse? Carol says MyPlate.gov. She also adds that it “is a really good place to get a lot of information that has been done for you.”

Sources:

http://4collegewomen.org/fact-sheets/nutrients.html

https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/womens-health/

https://youngwomenshealth.org/2013/02/01/college-health/

Abby Koch email: alk013@morningside.edu

Katie McClintock email: kmm018@morningside.edu

Carol Garvey, campus nurse email: garvey@morningside.edu