The end of the semester is quickly approaching, and I’m pretty sure everyone is feeling the pressure and overall anxiety of what that encompasses. No matter our typical healthy habits, around this time of year, we’ve discarded the majority of them and have swapped them out for ridiculous bedtime hours and overwhelming stress.
No matter the time of the year, or the abundance of work that you may have on your plate, taking care of yourself is a top priority, even if it seems there are far too many things on your to-do list. Here are a handful of tips to ensure you stay in the right mindset these next few weeks, and put yourself first above anything else.
- The inevitable social media break
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This is a very known self-care tip, but nonetheless, an effective one. Far too often I find myself scrolling through the same Instagram posts I just checked five minutes earlier, wasting precious time on a monotonous task. While technology and readily accessible social media outlets are a significant part of our society, it doesn’t mean we should devote a great deal of our time to them. Taking a break and setting your phone aside, or something as simple as turning off notifications for certain apps can greatly improve your self-esteem and can keep you more attentive to the outside world.
- Take a walk — or other exercises, if you’re more daring
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While exercising for me is sometimes a very undesirable task, I instantly feel better once I’m doing it. Taking merely 30-60 minutes out of your day to go to the gym, get some fresh air, or even dance around in your room, can rejuvenate your mind for the rest of the day and leave your mind and body feeling healthier.
- Make lists and set goals
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For me, making lists is extremely therapeutic. Each day, try to write down a list of goals you set to accomplish before the end of the day. If there’s something you didn’t get to, reflect on it. Minimal writing exercises like these can help you to process what you need to get done, as well as keep you organized.
- Sleep — at a decent hour
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While college life is incredibly busy, balancing academic, extracurricular, social, and personal tasks, it is still crucial that you get a decent amount of sleep. Going to bed late and waking up early will not prepare you for the day ahead, and will instead leave you feeling behind and less productive as you’re consistently fighting the desire to nod off. Do yourself a big favor and get those few extra hours of sleep that your body needs. You will be eternally grateful.
- Treat yourself, in more ways than one
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After a long day of studying, don’t hesitate to reward yourself. Simple outings with friends like seeing a movie or going shopping can help you get your mind off your stressful assignments and can allow you to relax. Aside from friends, buy that new face mask you’ve always wanted and treat your skin to some self-care too.
- Make time for alone time
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The theme of each self-care tip is, ultimately, to take time for yourself. And, no other action is more apparent than simply being alone. Set aside a couple of hours, whether while studying, or even while watching Netflix, to be by yourself without distractions. Time alone, whether productive or not, is a great way to decompress. Talk to yourself (it sounds silly, but it’s beneficial) and be sure to take a second to be proud of what you’ve accomplished.