- by Hailie St. John -
In college there are many things you will worry about, some may seem rational and some may seem completely off-topic. The things that truly matter will isolate themselves from the unimportant at the end of the day. The most important thing while being in college is how you decide to take care of yourself. Below are some of the ways I wind down at the end of a long day or week:
Preparing for the week ahead
This may sound like it isn’t worth it but it can truly relieve a lot of stress in advance. Some things I do to prepare for the week ahead are my laundry, a deep clean of my dorm room, print readings, decluttering unnecessary items and lastly drafting a list of things that need to be done in the coming week.
Get into good routines
One of the biggest things I struggled with was feeling like there was no time left in the day to do anything outside of what was required. Once I got into a good routine and followed it strictly for a couple weeks, I had it down to pure muscle memory. To get into your desired routine, setting a reasonable time to wake up and go to sleep each day is most important.
Creating your ideal environment
This is another big one as your space is where you want to be comfortable, you want it to reflect yourself and include what makes you comfortable. Your environment should be up to your standards and no one else’s. You choose the colors, the furniture, and even how you keep it organized.
Physical care
When practicing self-care, it can be as small as splurging on the products you use to a more in-depth routine. Some people like to practice this physical care with their friends by having a night with movies while doing facemasks. Our Golisano Training Center has an indoor track, field, courts, and training facilities, as well as fitness and recreation for Nazareth students. Whatever makes you feel good physically is what works for you, don’t get overwhelmed by what you see online. Another few things that are important when it comes to physical care are drinking enough water and getting a good amount of exercise. Most importantly you need a good amount of sleep.
Surrounding yourself with support
Honestly, I think this is the biggest thing when it comes to self-care. It may seem small or unimportant but it is. Having the right support system can change a lot. You will be able to discover who you truly are and feel completely free as well as comfortable around others. These people will love and care for you no matter what as long as you find the right ones.
Mental care
This is another important one as how you are feeling mentally determines a lot. Some things I do to make sure I am in a good mental state are taking breaks from social media, daily affirmations, taking a nature break, and doing something I know will make me laugh. Our therapy dogs are always around on campus! Having a good mental view is important each day as it can impact the day’s events. The most important thing to remember however is that it is perfectly okay and normal to have a bad day, take a break if you need to.
