Taking Care of Yourself
College is one of the most exciting, fun, and unique experiences in your life. There is always something to do, somewhere to be, or someone to meet. From late nights studying in the library to fun weekends with friends, there isn’t much time to prioritize rest and just relax. Without time for yourself, college can become overwhelming and stressful. It is so important to make sure you are taking care of yourself, physically and mentally, as mental health is a huge issue amongst college-aged kids. Self-care is a way you can check in on and take care of yourself. Here are some of my favorite self-care tips that have helped me!
SLEEP
It is normalized in college to pull “all-nighters” studying for an exam, doing homework, or simply hanging out with friends. While it’s easy to let time get away from you, it is important to get on a healthy sleep schedule. Doctors recommend that adults get seven hours of sleep to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and in college, that’s hard. Sleep is vital to our overall mental and physical health, but it is often overlooked. Last year, I decided to prioritize a sleep schedule, and I have seen a huge difference in how I feel. I also “unplug” an hour before bed so I don’t spend hours scrolling on social media and miss out on sleep. Getting sleep may seem like an obvious self-care tip, but it seriously has been a game changer for my mental health.
JOURNALING
I started journaling this year just for fun and it has become one of my most favorite things to do. Journaling provides a way to express your feelings, whether good or bad. I usually journal right before I go to bed because it allows me to clear my head and thoughts before I sleep. Pinterest has a lot of journaling prompts if you feel like you don’t know where to start, but I usually just write whatever is on my mind. It’s also a perfect place to write bible verses or quotes to look back on when you’re having a bad day.
EAT A HEALTHY DIET
I am going to be honest, this is definitely my least favorite self-care tip. But, it’s so important! What you eat is in direct correlation to how you feel. I have always struggled with anxiety, and I notice on days that I eat the worst, my anxiety is much worse. A tip to improve your diet is to meal prep. Meal prepping is also super convenient for college students that might not have time to prepare a meal everyday or have the money to eat out. It also holds you accountable to eat healthy. Pinterest has a lot of meal prepping tips and ideas. It is also so important to drink water. Something so simple as drinking a few glasses of water a day can make you feel so much better.
EXERCISE
One of the most popular forms of self-care is exercise. Exercise can be going to the gym, joining an intramural team, or simply going for a walk. For a lot of people, exercise is the perfect way to get out their frustrations and emotions. I’m not big on exercising, but my best friend and I have started going on afternoon walks. I love them because it gets me outside and away from my computer and I also get exercise. If you struggle with anxiety or depression, exercise can help burn off adrenaline and increase endorphins. It is definitely a mood stabilizer.
SAY NO
College is a very busy time. From classes, to a job, to socializing, to homework, to weekend plans, to club obligations...there is rarely any time to rest. It’s easy to get caught up in all the fun and forget to take time for yourself. Sometimes it’s okay to say no. I am a huge people pleaser, so even if it inconveniences me, I will still say yes to plans. Self-care is being able to say no, and doing what is right for you. If your friends are going to a party, but you barely got any sleep the night before or had a bad day, it’s okay to say no and stay in to recoup. It’s important not to isolate completely, because socialization can be helpful, but sometimes it’s just better to say no and have a night for yourself.
Self-care is so important for everyone, but I think even more so for college students. College is most everyone’s first time on their own, and there is so much to learn and figure out that it can get overwhelming. A lot of times, mental health will take a back seat to exam scores or social obligations. My freshman year, I had no idea how to manage all of my obligations and stressors, and it definitely caught up to me. I didn’t take any time for myself and fell into toxic habits. I began to notice the effects it was having on my mental health and decided to prioritize self-care. Since then, I have felt much better physically and mentally. I never felt like I was missing a self-care routine, but the changes I’ve seen in myself are huge. Self-care is for everyone, and it is subjective to your own life, struggles, and personality. It’s important to make a self-care routine sooner rather than later. I hope these tips can help you as much as they’ve helped me!
