Self-care: we’re talking about it everywhere. Depending on your algorithm, you probably see at least one advertisement about buying products targeted toward self-care every day(hello sheet masks)! But what happens when your bank account is crying from the commodification of self-care? And what if I told you, you don’t need that very expensive essential oil to engage in self-care?
Self-care is what promotes self-love, and what defines self-care is unique to each individual and deeply personal. But there are some common grounds in self-care practices that can be implemented into your daily routine as micro habits that can compound into keeping your mental state afloat during this busy time of the school year. And reading week’s coming up, so it’s the perfect time to take care of yourself, allow yourself to rest and recharge.
journaling
A lot of us (myself included) check our phones first thing in the morning, as if on impulse. Writing three pages of what’s on your mind can help you vent and make sense of what you are feeling and thinking. Your may even find yourself planning out your day and writing about small errands you might have to do. Replacing that habit with journaling can help to refresh your mind after you wake up instead of cluttering it with information (you have the rest of your day to do that). And the best part? All you need is a notebook and pen to get started. As a university student, it’s already in your stock so there’s no extra spending involved.
Meditation
For those of us who struggle with racing thoughts and anxiety, meditation can be used as an effective grounding technique to bring us to the present. It helps in accepting your thoughts as they are without any judgement, thus building self-awareness along the way. Although there are some great apps such as Headspace and Calm, they are paid subscriptions. There are tons of options to get started on meditation at an effective cost. Spotify has guided meditation podcasts, some of them are: Mindful In Minutes Meditation and The Morning Rituation by Lilly Balch. Students can sign up for using spotify for $5 per month, so be sure to use your York University student status to avail this offer!
going for walks
Going out for walks is simple: you get to boost your endorphin levels and the change of environment away from studying can help you focus better. And who doesn’t love to get their steps in? Take a friend with you as an added bonus!
naps!
I love naps in the middle of the day, and don’t worry, you won’t be sleepless at night if you cut down your naps to 20-30 minutes. Whereas four-hour naps can make you feel lethargic, a 30-minute nap can be an effective booster to build alertness and also getting rest during the day.
set boundaries
Boundaries are important. Studying in university, you may be juggling with a range of commitments starting from your personal life, extracurriculars and of course, academics. But part of keeping up with that schedule requires a healthy work-life balance so that you don’t suffer from a burnout. Sometimes, saying “no” is important to preserve your mental health. Leaving room for yourself amid a busy schedule is a part of self-care, one that requires some practice but it is rewarding.
attend to your needs
Living on a student budget can be hard, and it’s easy to fall into the fallacy of thinking that self-care is a luxury that can’t be afforded if you’re not willing to splurge. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Self-care, at its core, is attending to your needs. It can be hard to find time in a busy schedule to do so, but these manageable micro habits can be implemented into your schedule over time.