Taking Care of Yourself
What does it mean to take care of yourself? While we may all have different ideas of what taking care of ourselves looks like, we believe that it means engaging in practices and activities that promote your overall well-being. College and the various life transitions associated with this time can pull students in a lot of directions and finding balance can be difficult, especially when stress is added to the equation. However, it is important to remember that even when life gets busy and stressful, there are proven wellness strategies and practices that can help. There are a number of these strategies listed on the “Your Guide to Self-Care” pages of the journal. Additionally, they are listed below:
Mental Wellness
- Take 5–10 minutes for mindfulness or deep breathing
- Spend time reading, journaling, or learning something new
- Write down 3 things you’re grateful for
- Jam out to your favorite song
Emotional Health
- Check in with yourself
- Allow yourself to feel your feelings
- Do something that brings you joy
- Practice self-compassion
Physical Self-Care
- Eat nourishing meals
- Drink enough water
- Move your body
- Develop good sleep habits
Social Connection
- Reach out for support
- Build and connect with your village
- Set healthy boundaries or say “no” when needed
- Volunteer for something that’s important to you
Personal Joy & Relaxation
- Take a social media break
- Make time for a hobby or creative outlet
- Connect with nature
- Find time to unwind