When in college, there is a lot of stress that occurs in college students.  College students often feel overwhelmed, like they aren’t going anywhere, and just plain stressed out.  They often have a lot on their minds like their work schedule for the week, what homework is due for tomorrow, and how they’re going to pass their exam for the next week.  College can be quite overwhelming and if you don’t do anything to help maintain a happy life you can sometimes find yourself feeling depressed.  There are many reasons why college students feel depressed today.  Take a look at the top reasons why and see if you can try to avoid these situations.

Standing Still – Sometimes it just feels like we’re doing all this work, yet we’re not going anywhere.  We think to ourselves graduation is so far away still.  Although you may have a while left, you need to make sure you keep that motivation and work hard.  College isn’t easy and it takes motivation to go far.  Just keep in mind why you’re doing this and where you will be in a few years.

Overload – There is nothing worse than constantly thinking I need to do this and this, have this done by tomorrow and this paper done by tonight.  It seems like it is just assignment after assignment sometimes.  It is important to have an organized schedule for what you want to accomplish day by day.  Don’t look at the mess as a whole but what your goals are for each day.  Take one step at a time.

No Relaxation – Sometimes it may feel like when you’re relaxing you’re making it even worse.  You go to take a break from the day and your head is just filled with a checklist of things to do.  It is hard to just relax sometimes, just stop what you’re doing, take a deep breath and clear your head.  Don’t take a break from what you’re doing to think about what you’re going to do next.

Limited Exercise – Often college students don’t get all the exercise they need day by day.  They have busy schedules and it is hard to find time to exercise, especially when they’re already worn out from the day.  Try to just get at least a half an hour per day.  Whether you go for a walk up town, play Wii fit, or just anything to get your heart going, anything is better than nothing.

Lack of Sleep – College students live a busy life which calls for a lack of sleep.  From working throughout the week while going to school to staying up late studying for a test, makes it hard to get those 8 hours every night.  Although it may be hard, really try to get enough sleep each and every night.

Poor Diet – When a student runs a busy life that calls for fast meals.  What do fast meals mean?  Fast food.  Often students eat a very poor diet that is low in vitamins and protein.  It is very important to get both and especially protein.  Protein gives you the energy throughout the day to keep on moving!

Too Much Work – How can you pay for school if you don’t work?  Yes, college is expensive but that is what students loans are for.   Going to college is like having a full time job as it is. Don’t overdue yourself and work yourself too hard.  It is important to focus on your school work and just work a few hours a week.

As you can see there are many causes for depression among college students.  It is very important to take good care of your health as always and to take these tips into consideration.  College is supposed to be a fun part of your life and if you let depression get the best of you, you may never achieve your best goals!