Many universities have cancelled spring and replaced it with wellness week, or STAYCATION. Because students are still on campus and attending classes, taking a break is even harder now than before. Spring break was the time many used to detox, reset, and restart. But with that taken away, this semester seems to be harder than any other. It also seems a lot harder to engage in self-care practices.
Self-care is important in maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself. This can and would include taking care of minds, bodies, and souls by engaging in practice that reduce stress. Self- care practices overall benefit you physical, mental, and emotional health. It is still important to take care of yourself, physically and mentally, so here are some self-care tips for every area of your life.
PHYSICAL SELF-CARE
You must take care of your body in order to survive and for it to run efficiently. It is essential to establish a connection between body and mind. That is why physical self-care is so important. Physical self-care can includes fueling your body. This can range from the amount of sleep you are receiving to the amount of physical activity you are doing. It is important to ask yourself if you are getting enough sleep, eating right, getting enough physical activity in during the day.
Overall, are you taking charge over your physical health?
There are many ways to practice physical self-care. This includes developing a regular sleep routine. This ensures that you are well-rested as well as have enough energy to get through the day. Not only should you be eating healthy by also eating enough. Eating well and drinking enough water can make such a drastic difference in your day. Move your body whether through cardio, weightlifting, or yoga. There are many ways to move your body so engage in something you find fun and comfortable.
SOCIAL SELF-CARE
Not getting spring break, in addition to the pandemic and classes, we have had less and less human contact. But one must still try to socialize and communicate with friends. It is hard to make friends during these times and increasingly, it has become easy to neglect relationships. However, close connection is important to your well-being. Most times, friends are those you motivate and encourage you. Ask yourself if you have gotten enough face-to-face time with friends, of course while practicing social distancing.
To practice social self-care, try to get involved in your community. Go outside and take a walk with family and/or friends. Spend time with friends even if it is to grab food. Create study groups with friends and classmates and spend time studying or doing homework with classmates and friends.
MENTAL SELF-CARE
Mental self-care is important in keeping your mind sharp. This is key to surviving the rest of the semester. Taking care of yourself both physically and socially are key to taking care of yourself mentally. Practice self-compassion, motivation, and acceptance. Ask yourself if you are setting enough time in the day for you to reset and process your emotions. This is important and a healthy coping sill that will allow you to deal with uncomfortable situations.
One of the main to mentally take care of yourself is to talk about your feelings. Take breaks and ask for help when needed. Keep in touch with friends and family. Be gentle with yourself, try not to take things too personal. Care for your body and know your limits. If social media is making you feel worse, take a break. Sometime focusing on what you can control helps you feel in charge over something and makes you feel more comfortable.
Self-care is important especially during times like these. Make time for yourself to do what you need to in order to feel better. Take that spa day, do a face mask, take care of yourself and remember to take things slowly.