Some of the best tips to ensure that you are prioritizing yourself in a busy time
No matter if you are a first or fifth year, the first semester of every year is always the most stressful. Social pressures, keeping up with studies, incorporating time for friends, and reaching out to family all take time away from the most important person in your life: yourself. Sometimes, when life is pulling you in a hundred different directions (slight High School Musical Reference), it is the most important time to take a step back and prioritize yourself.
I am in my first year of college, a time which is known for being both the busiest time in your life and the most tumultuous. I still navigate a routine while juggling friends, clubs, sports, family, and academics. These are just a few things that I try to practice in my life, as well as what I suggest to friends when they seek advice.
- Make sure you are getting enough water and food
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So often, when I find myself stretched too thin or not prioritizing myself, I realize that I have been so wrapped up in everything else that I forgot to make time for myself to eat or drink water. Despite these being basic necessities, they can quickly become the part of my day that gets rushed through the most. As I began my self-care journey, I realized that the simple act of filling up my water bottle was so beneficial for taking care of myself. So go get yourself a plate of fueling food and fill up a big glass of water. It might seem small, but there’s a reason that some of the world’s problems are solved after lunchtime.
- Go for a walk or some form of exercise
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Moving your body is so important, especially when you do not feel like it. I know I am the first person to dread going on a walk or going to the gym, and I am always the person asking someone else to go with me because I need to be held accountable. However, I feel 100% better about myself the second I get there. My anxieties seem to melt away with the sweat after even three minutes on the StairMaster, listening to my favorite pump-up songs. I am also a big fan of a long “hot girl” walk around our beautiful campus. I always have a good podcast going (right now, I am personally an avid listener of Emma Chamberlain’s podcast Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain). Even if it feels almost impossible, getting out and moving your body will do so much to calm your mind.
- Get a little treat
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I love a little treat at the end of a long day. Whether it is a little dessert after dinner, a coffee between classes, or a few extra fries with lunch, there is nothing wrong with letting yourself have some guilt-free cheat foods (for me, treats involve food, but it can be whatever you want! Maybe buying yourself a shirt or having a bubble bath could be a treat for you!). I feel like whenever I read articles about self-care, they list off all of these healthy alternatives. Yet, how realistic is that? Every once in a while and on a particularly bad day, I want to sit down with a bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream, watch a comfort show, and slightly rot in my Twin XL dorm bed. Little treats are highly beneficial for your mental health; not everything has to be “avocado toast and hour-long core workouts” to take care of yourself.
- Socialize
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Whether it be calling your family at home or getting dinner with your friends, nothing should make you feel better than surrounding yourself with people who love you. Even though they are not right in front of you, calling your family, whether it be your mom, dad, favorite cousin, a grandparent, or guardian, helps to ground you and return to reality. So often, I get spun around by my environment, so it always helps to get a grounding opinion from a family member. Meeting friends can often be tricky, especially in your first semester in a new place. Nonetheless, I have met some forever friends by reaching out to classmates and girls on my hall. These people now help affirm me and help remind me to take care of myself. They recharge my social battery instead of draining it.
- take a nap
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Nothing helps relax me better than a nap. I cannot say too many inspiring things about a nap because the word itself is so amazing. A nap. A short repose from the woes of life. Nothing beats it.
- Spend time outside
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When they say “touch grass,” it really is so helpful. It is the best feeling to turn your phone off and spend time reconnecting with nature and the physical world around you. My favorite thing right now is to take all of my reading homework assignments and a blanket to complete on the lawn or in the quad. In that respect, I am both completing assignments (beneficial to my mental health) and spending time in nature. This method of self-care also can be combined with exercise or social time: going on an outdoor walk or a picnic with friends can be a great way to breathe some fresh air.
At the end of the day, it does not matter what you do to prioritize yourself in even the busiest of times, as long as you work your hardest to take care of yourself. You are unable to be your best for your friends, family, and academics unless you are at your personal best.