University comes well equipped with a lot of new experiences, struggles, and exciting times to be had. Yes, it is a lot of fun, but it is also a lot to handle. In the midst of all of the overwhelming social, academic, and athletic obligations we have taking up our time, it is important to take a step back and make time for yourself. It’s very easy to forget about taking care of ourselves, expecially with finals season upon us. That being said, taking care is the most important thing you can to do ensure success in every aspect of your life. With that, I’ve compiled a list of three key ways to incorporate “me time” into your daily routine. These three things worked for me and I hope they work for you too!
1. Read A Good Book
We often associeate any type of reading with a textbook because most of the reading we do is in an academic setting. Don’t let this turn you off from reading. Reading a good story is actually really fun and enjoyable when you pick a book that interests you. Keep a go-to book on your bedside table and read a chapter or two every night. Not only will it make your eyes tired and ready for a good night’s sleep, you’ll also be giving all of your attention to something that isn’t your life, which can be refreshing. Pick a genre you love like romance, comedy, or fantasy/fiction. One of my favorite books is Eat, Pray, Love, and The Hunger Games is always a good trilogy to revisit.
2. Hot Yoga
I was initally skeptical about going to my first hot yoga class. The idea of a dozen sweaty bodies in a hot room seemed far from ideal, but I decided I had to try it. Now that I’ve gone back a few times, I can confidently say that hot yoga is totally worth it. Yoga is an experience that is meant to focus on the individual and how your movements and breathing interact. It forces you to focus on yourself, which I really appreciate. When your mind starts to wander, you lose your balance or forget to breathe, so it really pushes you to be present in the moment. To my surprise, I also enjoyed the “hot” part. Even though I have never sweat that much in my life, it felt like all the toxins in my body were being released and I ended the session feeling very calm within. The past few times I have gone have been at Moksha Yoga on St. Laurent; I highly recommend you check it out!
3. Take A Break!!!
Sometimes it feels like we have so much work to do that we can’t stop. This is not the answer. The better thing to do it to take a break. When we take on too much, we get overwhelmend, so it is important to take on just as much as we can handle at a time. You can hit the gym, take a walk down St. Catherine’s, or go grab and ice cream cone to reward yourself for all of your hard work. A change of scene and activity is important in order to be productive and happy at the same time.
By making time for yourself, you will get rid of stress and any other negative feelings you have by acknowledging that you are not a robot on auto-pilot; you are a human being who needs to be treated once in a while.
Images obtained from:
http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Stressed-Woman…
http://www.parenthetical.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/eatpraylove.jpg
http://www.burnabyheights.com/wp-content/themes/burnabyheights/timthumb….
http://www.seriouseats.com/images/20100322-ben-jerrys-500.jpg