It’s been a rough week. Whether it’s the stress of finishing midterms and going into finals , balancing work and academics or even the reactions to our recent election, it’s always great to practice self care. If you ever forget to take care of yourself, whether physically, emotionally or mentally, then you should be practicing self-care methods. Self care is all about you doing you, meaning identifying your needs and taking steps to meet them.
I know you’re busy, and finding the time to take proper care of yourself can be hard. But if you don’t, it won’t be long before you’re exhausted and living within a mental fog where it’s hard to care about anything or anyone. Honestly, I think we’ve all been there at some point.
I also understand that it’s hard to find the time and even the motivation to engage in self-care. With that being said, I hope this article helps you find what you need to become a happier, healthier, less stressed person.
1.) UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC)
It’s UCLA’s best kept secret. Not that it’s trying to be exclusive but not enough of us know it even exists. The MARC center’s mission is “ to foster mindful awareness across the lifespan through education and research to promote well-being and a more compassionate society.”
The MARC is an incredible resource for students funded by the Healthy Campus Initiative.They provide classes and workshops that teach mindfulness at no cost to UCLA students. Not only do they have drop in meditation classes but they also offer online classes you can take from the comfort of your room.
2.) UCLA Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
CAPS is another one of those resources that students should know more about. Their main goal is to foster the development of your mental well-being as you “pursue your academic goals”. They offer services such as crisis counseling available by phone 24 hours a day/7 days a week, individual counseling and group therapy.
These are great resources that are unique to UCLA. Here are some really helpful resources online, that anyone can use.
3.) Shonkwiler : relaxing gifs that you can practice breathing exercises to.
4.) I Feel Like Shit an Interactive Self Care Guide : This guide will help those who struggle with self care. It’s designed to take as much of the weight off of you as possible, so each decision is very easy and doesn’t require much judgment
5.) This is Sand: thisisand changes the pixels on your computer into digital sand. Thisissand is a unique playground for creating and sharing amazing sandscapes and incredibly relaxing.
6.) Calm.com: Relax with Calm, a simple mindfulness meditation app that brings clarity and peace of mind into your life.
7.) Do nothing for two minutes: A quick way to decompress.
I hope these resources help you through whatever is bothering you. Never forget that it’s play to unplug once in awhile, read a book, go for a walk or even do some coloring. Always remember to take care of yourself above everything else.