What does self-care mean? Everyone hears it, and everyone is told about the importance of self-care, but is there a right way to actually practice self-care?
The truth is that each person must develop their own self-care routines, and what works for one person might not work for another. However, there are some themes that one should keep in mind as they are designing their own self-care routine. It is often times easy to take care of everyone else around you, while in the process forgetting to take care of yourself. Whether it be putting on a face mask, reading a book, or spending quality time with loved ones, the idea is that you should incorporate an activity in which you truly enjoy, and you should incorporate that activity into your weekly routine.
Self-care is not selfish. You must fill your own cup before you can pour into others. This is the central message found on the Active Minds web page, a website that serves as a great resource for mental health activity. Other examples of self-care could be cleaning, cooking/ baking, crossing off your to-do list, exercising, getting a massage, listening to music, or simply going on a walk (ActiveMinds).
AMSA member, Hanna Gootin, commented, “For mental breaks, I like to walk around campus to get some fresh air.” Another great example of self-care, going out into nature and getting some air has repetitively been shown to help individuals destress and help make an individual feel grounded.
Especially during these Covid times, when most of us are all locked up in our rooms with little to no contact with others, it can be extremely beneficial to begin to explore with different forms of self-care in order to make sure we are giving our mental health the attention it deserves. Take this as a reminder to do something nice for yourself today, and begin building these small healthy habits, which can have a large impact on student productivity and overall well-being.
https://www.activeminds.org/about-mental-health/self-care/
