College is a time to experiment, not to have your whole life’s path figured out. Occupational Wellbeing means feeling your studies and work are moving you toward something meaningful. Even the tiniest steps are forward motion! If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , getting clear about the direction you’re headed is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Write your why. Jot one sentence about why you chose your major or current career path. Bookmark a resource. Visit your career center website and save one page or tool. Draft a message. Write (but don’t send yet) a short note asking someone for an informational chat.
Your space can set the tone for how you think and feel. A cluttered desk or messy room can make stress heavier. The fix for Environmental Wellbeing isn’t a total overhaul of your space. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , clearing one cluttered area is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Do a five-minute reset. Clear off your desk, declutter your nightstand, or clean out your backpack. Create a signal. How can you cue your brain that it’s time to get down to business with items you have on hand? Turn on a lamp or grab a blanket to throw over your lap to signal “study mode.” Park your phone. Pick a spot in your room to leave your phone during focused work time. Don’t forget to turn off notifications!
Spiritual Wellbeing isn’t limited to religion. Making time for identifying meaning, reflection, and alignment with your values are spiritual practices in and of themselves. When you know and honor what matters most to you, decisions and stress feel easier to handle. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , identifying your values is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Write your values. Put your top three values on a sticky note near your desk. Take five minutes of quiet. Walk, focus on your breath, or just sit in silence without your phone or agenda. Spot meaning. Write down one moment that felt important or grounding today.
Your brain can’t run on all-nighters forever. Intellectual Wellbeing doesn’t mean forcing yourself to study harder and longer Instead, ask yourself how you can study smarter and stay curious about subjects that interest you. Short bursts of focus will do more for your learning than endless cramming. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , giving the Pomodoro Method a try is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Try a Pomodoro. Set a 25-minute timer, work on one study task, then take a 5-minute break. Ask before you read. Jot down three questions you want answered before you start a reading assignment. Feed your curiosity. Spend ten minutes exploring a subject or a question just because it interests you.
Being surrounded by people doesn’t always mean you feel connected. College can get lonely, especially if you’re in a new place or adjusting to a new routine. The good news? Social Wellbeing often grows from the smallest steps. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , sending one simple text message to connect is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Send a text. Ask one person if they’d like to grab a coffee, study or walk to class together this week. Visit office hours. Connecting with a professor or TA can create support beyond academics. Say hello. Introduce yourself to a neighbor in your dorm, apartment, or library study space.
When college life gets busy, sleep, meals, and movement are usually the first things to slip. The result? Low energy, brain fog, and stress that feels bigger than it actually is. The key to Physical Wellbeing isn’t doing everything perfectly. Pick one anchor and build from there. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , selecting sleep as your anchor is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Pick a bedtime. Even if your class schedule changes each day (meaning you’re able to wake up at different times), choose ONE “get-in-bed” time you’ll aim for each night. Consistency matters more than perfection. Hydrate early. Aim to drink one full glass of water before your first class. It’s an easy energy boost. Move a little. Have a break between classes? Walk for ten minutes instead of scrolling on your phone.
College life is a whirlwind of assignments, friendships, part-time jobs, and late nights. It’s easy to feel like your emotions are running the show instead of the other way around. The good news? You don’t have to fix everything at once. Improving Emotional Wellbeing begins with the smallest step: noticing what you feel and giving it a name. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , putting names to your feelings is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Name it to tame it. Grab a sticky note or your phone and write one word for how you feel right now, plus one word for what you need. For example: “Overwhelmed → Rest.” Breathe on purpose. Try a 4-7-8 breath cycle: breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8. It’s a reset you can do anywhere when emotions are feeling heightened. Make a help list. Write down three people or places you could reach out to when stress feels too heavy. Whether it’s a friend, parent, or your campus counseling center, just knowing there are people in your corner can help you feel more supported.
Use this simple 8-dimension check-in to spot your biggest challenge and take your first step toward better wellbeing.
When your child leaves home for college, it’s one of the biggest transitions you’ll both ever face. Suddenly, their schedule, living space, friends, and routines are brand new and your role as a parent shifts, too. You’re no longer managing the day-to-day details, but you’re still a vital source of support as they learn to navigate independence. At the Lifelong Wellbeing Foundation, we look at wellbeing across 8 dimensions : emotional, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, occupational, and financial. As your student starts college, each of these dimensions may be tested in new ways. The good news? You can play an active role in encouraging balance and resilience without stepping on their newfound independence. Here’s how to support each dimension from your side of the journey:
Starting college is one of the biggest transitions of your life. Suddenly, everything is new. Your schedule, living space, friends, even the way you eat and sleep, have all likely undergone some level of change. With so much adjustment needing to take place all at once, it’s easy to feel a little bit off balance. That’s why paying attention to your wellbeing is just as important as keeping up with classes. At the Lifelong Wellbeing Foundation, we look at wellbeing across 8 dimensions : emotional, physical, social, intellectual, spiritual, environmental, occupational, and financial. When one of these is struggling, it can affect all the others. And when you strengthen them, you set yourself up for a healthier, more successful start to college. Here’s how to support each dimension during those first weeks on campus: