As a full-time student double majoring in English and Women & Gender Studies, I read a lot. But all the required reading and critical thinking is exhausting, by the end of the week, so what do I do for self-care? You might not have guessed it, but I read. Yes, even after all that time, day in and day out, of reading for classes, I also read for fun. But there’s a stark difference; while reading for school is draining, reading for fun is rejuvenating. At the end of a long day, lying down on my couch and diving into a mindless romance is just what I need.
Self-care can take many forms – washing your face, taking a bath, meditating, the list goes on – and mine is reading. Reading has always been a passion of mine, hence the English major and the job at a bookstore. I didn’t realize, until college, that reading was also a way of retaining my sanity. If I ever felt like the pressures of real life were too much, I could insert myself into a fantastical world free of responsibilities. If I’m feeling a bit down in the dumps after a particularly hard day, reading a flirty romance gets me smiling again. And yes, if all I’m looking for is a good cry, there’s a handful of books I can rely on for that as well.
But how can you implement reading into your daily routine? It really depends on what works for you, but I always find myself reading an hour or so after I get back to my apartment from school. If I wait until night, I get way too tired and don’t read anything at all. I also don’t have enough energy in the morning to read before rushing to catch my bus. I’m the most drained right after school, so reading then makes the most sense for me. After about an hour of reading, my stress from school has dissipated, and I’m ready to tackle all the homework due the next day.
The next time you’re stressed out and just need to unwind, pick up a book! Reading doesn’t always have to be for school, and it doesn’t always have to require critical thinking and all your brainpower either. Reading will transport you to another world – literally and figuratively – without the pressures of being a school student, working a part-time job and all the other responsibilities of being in college.
Your mental health is of the utmost importance. As a college student, it can be easy to put your health on a backburner, but give yourself a little chunk of time just for you, every day. Whatever that looks like, whether it be something solitary like reading or something more social like going out with your friends, make sure you get a little me-time.