It is the middle of the semester, and you are staying up till 3 AM and living on coffee and granola bars. There are four exams to study for, a group project to complete, and an internship interview to prepare for. So, what do you do to get all these things done? You may cut out your workouts, cancel a hangout with your best friends, or stop watching your favorite Netflix show. I know we all get busy, but it is so important to remember that taking care of yourself should be a priority.
Don’t think self-care is selfish. I believe that making sure your mind, body, and soul are taken care of is key to being happy and reaching your goals. Self-care helps prevent burnout, reduces negative psychological and physical effects of stress, and helps you refocus on what is true and important.
Here are some tips that I’ve put together that you can do to start improving your self-care routine…
1. Start your morning off right- Meditate, cook a healthy breakfast, workout or take a walk. Doing something that you enjoy will help you start the day on the right foot and energize you for the day ahead!
I try to work out in the morning because it wakes me up and makes my day feel longer.
2. Celebrate your accomplishments- Making to-do lists is a great way to lay out the things you need to get done. It’s relieving when you cross something off that list, right? Next time, tell yourself “Good job” or “You’re almost there” each time you do so to reward yourself for working hard!
I love keeping to-do lists because it keeps me on track.
3. Express gratitude- This is one of my favorite things that I’ve started to do for my self-care. On January 1st, I started writing down 5 things that I was grateful for at the end of each day. This trains you to focus on the positive instead of the negative.
Focus on the good things!
4. Disconnect to connect- When you are interacting with people, get off your phone! People are busy with their own lives, so cherish the time you get with them. You will engage in more meaningful and fun conversations if everyone is off their phones. You’ll walk away feeling happy and empowered, I promise.
A self-explanatory sign
5. Create a “self-care” kit- When times get tough, having something to go to that will bring you instant happiness is really beneficial. You can fill a basket with your favorite snacks, scented lotion and pictures of loved ones. You could also create a folder in your phone filled with pictures of your favorite past times, videos of funny nights with friends, and screenshots of inspirational sayings.
This person filled her box with face masks, snacks, and tea!
6. Do spontaneous things- When you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, try to do something you didn’t plan to do! Grab a friend and go on a hike, get some ice cream, or take funny pictures. These make for the best memories!
One of my best friends and I spontaneously decided to go to the VT vs. WV game two days before it!
7. Start journaling- I recently started journaling and I love it. It is your way to dump out your thoughts and analyze the way you think. It is really therapeutic because you won’t be judged and you’ll have time to yourself to think.
This is a photo I took back over winter break when I started journaling.
8. Treat yourself- Whether it is buying your favorite coffee from Starbucks, shopping at your favorite store, or watching your favorite YouTube channel, do something that makes you happy. You’ll walk away feel refreshed!
After a hard exam, my friend and I treated ourselves to coffee!
9. Learn to say “no”- If you are feeling down, don’t be afraid to skip out on a movie night or a night out downtown. Spending the night alone can help you recollect your thoughts, relax, and unwind. Sometimes being in a crowd can arouse negative feelings and that can spread to others. Prioritize yourself!
One night when I was feeling down, I stayed in and watched my guilty pleasure: Real Housewives of NYC
10. Keep a positive attitude- This is one of the most important things you can do for self-care. You’ll see a big difference if you try to keep a positive outlook in life. I know it is really hard to do sometimes, but try flipping the tough situation and looking at the pros or try talking to a positive friend who you can talk about it with. A positive mind = a positive life!
Success starts with a positive mind!
I hope these tips inspired you to practice self-care this semester. However, don’t think you have to do any or all of these things. This is just what has worked for me, so find what is best for you and what will make you happy! I found a passion in self-care and would love to help others get started to improve their routine, so please contact me anytime at heaths4@vt.edu!