By Sheyanne Bruyere
There’s no hiding from it. School is S-T-R-E-S-S-F-U-L. I know it can be hard, but you need to learn how to step back and just take a break from it for a bit and spend some quality time on yourself because you deserve it! You’ve likely been working your butt off writing some lengthy papers, working on groups projects, or trying to manage a billion other assignments all at once. You are just as important as all those things you’re trying to do! Remember, self-care isn’t selfish!
Here are 4 ways to practice self-care as a student:
Sleep
Seems obvious right? Yes and no. I mean, try to get a good nights sleep. That means at least a full eight hours. Your body needs time to rest and recharge especially if you’re finding yourself to be stressed all the time.
Try not spending that last hour awake on your phone in bed. I know I’m guilty of it. I’ll scroll through social media, play games, or get lost on Pinterest for a while before finally putting my phone down and closing my eyes. If you’re someone who has trouble falling asleep, try watching TV in bed instead or test out one of those calming apps where it plays soothing music and noises to help your body relax. Or, reconsider how many cups of coffee you’re consuming each day and try to slowly reduce that number.
Go For A Walk
If it’s nice out of course. I do this often in the summertime. This might sound odd, but it makes me feel more connected with my neighbourhood and with nature in general. It’s an enjoyable time to just walk, take in your surroundings and appreciate them. I don’t go for long walks, usually 20-minutes or so, but it’s enough that I feel relaxed afterwards when I come home.
Workout
I’ve mentioned this in a previous post, but exercising is such a great stress reliever. Plus, it’s good for you! Try to make time at least once a week for one hour. It’s a good starting point and then if you find that you’re able to exercise more often, great! But don’t beat yourself down if you can’t. I know I’m guilty of that sometimes. Life is busy and being a student is exhausting, so don’t set unrealistic goals for yourself right now if you know it’s going to be too challenging to keep up with them.
Read A Book
I always forget how much I love reading until I find the time to curl up with a good book before bed. It’s so relaxing. Right now I’m reading “The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck” and it’s pretty good. If I’m looking to wind down for the day, I’ll pick up my book. I’m also always looking for recommendations so don’t forget to leave a comment below!
You can read more of Sheyanne’s tips for surviving student life at her blog “Student Notes to Self”
