March is the season of new beginnings. Spring rolls around, baby animals are born, flowers and trees come back to life, seasonal depression comes to an end, and life essentially starts again.
It is a time of joy and excitement as things begin anew once again. However, people also face many issues and difficulties every day, especially when things change – whether you forgot what the deadline was for an assignment with the new semester, you don’t know how to adjust to your new module, can’t find a flat for next year, or even have to face unexpected hardships such as grief.
Certainly, for student life, it can get tough. Assignments pile up, friend groups blur, and things can get pretty overwhelming pretty fast. Even for non-students, life can sometimes go so fast that you can struggle to see what’s right in front of you or lose sight of who you are; taking care of yourself can often feel like a struggle.
It’s no secret to anyone that life can throw some pretty big curveballs our way, sometimes they can even be seen as wrecking balls, but there are many ways to deal with these struggles.
It is how we deal with our problems and come out the other side that matters the most.
Ways to deal with life’s curveballs
Pick up a craft – many people find crafting things to be a calming way of bringing your mind back down to Earth and to reconnect with reality. Whether it’s picking up a paint by number in a craft shop, having a go at knitting/crocheting, or even doodling and writing! Human beings have a natural ability to craft things, look around everywhere! Why not be practical and calming in one go?
Do some exercise – picking up a sport such as badminton or football, something adventurous such as mountaineering our cycling, or even just a short walk around the Loch on campus or around your local park for just a short amount of time. There is something for everyone to be able to get out and enjoy the fresh air.
Cuddle some animals (within reason) – for uni students missing our pets can be one of the hardest things about moving away from home (sorry family). By spending some time with our lovable pets, we can feel re-grounded and reconnected with ourselves as they are often the most understanding of everyone we might know. Even just feeding the ducks can boost how you feel!
The thing to remember is that there is always a way to get through a tough time, even if it doesn’t feel like it at that moment in time. Even if all you need is to snuggle up with a movie and a hot chocolate or see some friends.
Even if you need a bit of help by speaking to someone you feel comfortable around like family/friends, even if you need to speak to someone such as a counsellor (there are counselling and mental health help available on campus), there is always a way out the other side – and onto a new beginning!
Featured image credit: Pexels
