Kettering College Student Shares Tips for Well-being
October 30, 2024 — Over 60% of college students nationwide feel high levels of stress daily. Christabel Adaigbe is familiar with the pressure that comes with being a college student. She is in the Nursing program at Kettering College, away from her parents and familiar surroundings. She’s learned to adapt to rhythms that feel very different from being in high school and has made adjustments to her daily routine to ensure she is taking care of herself.
Her schedule, as is the case for most college students, is crammed with classes, clinical experiences, and studying to retain information. Christabel admits, although exciting, it can be overwhelming. She cites the following obstacles that were new to her when she became a college student and continue to play in her mind:
- Academic: The pressure to perform well to succeed and begin a fulfilling career.
- Financial: Managing tuition, rent, and other essential expenses. She notes the pressure of wanting to succeed and show her parents she is taking their investment in her education seriously—a relatable pressure for several college students.
- Time Management: Balancing school life with work and a social life.
- Social Adjustment: Entering a new environment and having to build new friendships and community.
- Maintaining Health: Balancing academic responsibilities with physical and mental health.
Giving time and attention to these necessities in college can create tension and stress if students don’t prioritize their health as the foundation. Christabel says, “Recognizing that my health is my wealth helps me remember how essential it is to stay healthy. When we classify something as important, we tend to make time for it.”
She emphasizes the importance of being organized and planning ahead to help decrease anxiety. Creating a schedule puts a student in control instead of feeling frantic by getting lost in the chaos. Christabel says, “At the beginning of the week, outline your schedule. Start with your highest priorities, such as class hours, clinical hours, work hours, meal prep (if you cook), and any assignments, etc. This way, you can see and analyze your free time for self-care, outings, exercise, and other activities.”
“Recognizing that my health is my wealth helps me remember how essential it is to stay healthy.”
-Christabel Adaigbe, Kettering College Nursing Student
She views her health as consisting of spiritual, physical, and mental, and offers the following guidelines to other students:
Spiritual
- I make it a point to read my Bible in the morning and pray at night; prayer is a must for me while reading the Bible is optional.
- At the end of the day, I reflect on what I am grateful for.
Physical
- Staying hydrated is essential for me. I’m currently trying to drink water with my meals instead of having three different beverages throughout the day.
- I aim to go for a 30-minute walk four days a week. I also enjoy dancing, as it’s a fun way to get my body moving.
Mental
- To keep my brain active, I enjoy solving puzzles.
- I also watch comedy skits to help reduce stress.
She adds, “These are my daily habits, although I’ve also tried other activities like reading and going to the gym, but I’m not as consistent with those as I am with the ones listed above.” This ability to find what works for you is another important aspect of creating routines and schedules that help maintain balance.
Christabel Adaigbe reminds college students to start small when trying to build manageable healthier habits. “Gradually increase as it becomes part of your daily routine. Starting small makes it easier and, believe me, nothing is too small,” she says.
She has found life in college and in general can be unpredictable. She encourages fellow Kettering College students to “Stay flexible. If things don’t go as planned, it’s okay! Flexibility and positive self-talk or self-compassion are key to maintaining your sanity and balance.”
About Kettering College
Kettering College is a fully accredited, faith-based healthcare college in a suburb of Dayton, Ohio, offering career-focused medical degrees through traditional and accelerated programs. A division of Kettering Health, Kettering College is located on the Kettering Health Main Campus and is chartered by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.