Self care is a crucial part of upholding your mental health and preventing burn out throughout your daily life, especially as a college student. It’s important to be with yourself and do what your mind and body tells you so you can continue onwards or get out of a funk.

and breathe electric sign infront of plants

What we’ll cover

Get Into Your Body

One of the best ways to relieve stress or anxiety through self care is by moving your body in any way that you enjoy. Some people prefer to do high impact exercises like HIIT workouts, running, or boxing while others enjoy lighter exercises like walking, yoga, and pilates. There is no wrong way to get your body moving, especially if you do it outside where you can connect to nature in your area. One of my favorite ways to release any pent up emotions is by playing loud music from my speaker and dancing around my house. It’s a great way to ground yourself and gain perspective on how to implement good, light-hearted moments into each day. 

Another great way to be productive while also moving your body is by cleaning your room or any living space of your choice. A clean room free from clutter can help ease your mind and make you feel more comfortable while also being able to focus on other tasks like homework. 

Eating a balanced diet is a major contributing factor to mental health and being able to function the best that you can. Eating foods that work best for you is a great way to care for yourself, even if that means indulging in something that others would consider to be unhealthy. Sometimes you just need to have dessert before dinner or leftovers for breakfast, it’s good for the soul. Similarly, learning how to make a new meal or snack to refresh your palate is a fun way to take care of your body. One of my favorite quick and easy snacks to make when I feel like adding some extra vegetables into my diet is kale chips. If you’re interested in the process of making your own, check out my YouTube video that I made on my kale chip recipe. 

Lastly, drinking enough water is key to staying hydrated and ensuring your body can do the tasks it needs to not just survive but to thrive as well. 

sneakers going up stairs

Get Into Your Brain

The best way to turn inwards and process any emotions you’re feeling is journaling, and it can be about absolutely anything at all. You can vent about your life, what your goals are, or even what your belief system is. Having an outlet is crucial to letting go of stress or anxiety that might be sitting on your chest from moments over time that build up. Oftentimes, I like to journal at night after a long day of classes and homework to decompress before bed so I have a good mindset going into the next day. 

One of my favorite ways to ease my brain is by listening to music that reflects my mood. Sometimes, it’s more beneficial to listen to sad music and accept the way you’re feeling than trying to listen to uplifting music. However, a tried and true method to getting into a higher energy level is by listening to a playlist full of music that you hear when you’re in a good mood. Also, a playlist that reminds you of fond memories helps to bring you out of a funky mood. 

Reaching out to loved ones always helps ground me when I’m having difficulties centering myself in how I’m feeling. It’s nice to know that you’re not alone and that we’re all going through our own paths in life with support from others. Humans are social creatures, so sometimes we need to rely on a friend to back us up on how we’re feeling or vent to someone while they give advice and vent in return.

Another way to calm your brain and center yourself in your values is by getting involved in something bigger than yourself. Finding an organization or cause that you’re passionate about helps to give your brain a greater purpose for contributing to a project or helping someone. 

Meditation is one of the first things that is referenced when the topic of mental health and self care is spoken about. It allows you to train your brain into being mindful to achieve a clearer and more stable state of mind. There are numerous techniques that you can use, oftentimes people have different methods that they practice and find more effective than other ones. You can find these techniques just about anywhere on the internet. A popular one right now is a show on Netflix produced by Headspace called “Headspace Guide to Meditation.” This is a great program for beginners to get into meditation and understand the basis of the practice. 

woman meditating on yoga mat from above

Creative Outlets

Another way to sit and be with yourself is by tapping into your creative side. This can include anything that you have a slight interest in or trying out something new. Coloring books have made a resurgence for adults and are a great activity to unleash creativity while mindlessly drawing. Painting on paper or canvas boards are both alternatives to coloring but still have the same creative core. In the end, you will have possible decor for your home and be fulfilled that you created something unique to what you normally do with your free time.

hands doing arts and crafts for letter seals

Habitual Routines

Establishing a routine that goes with your schedule whether that be with classes, practice, or a job, is crucial to getting the most out of your time. Adding aspects into your routine that make your day better is an essential part of giving yourself a break and helps to get through tough days. I find that writing my tasks in a daily planner helps me stick to a routine and makes me more likely to accomplish my goals in mind. In order to keep up with your tasks, your sleep schedule is the most important part of your routine since the entire day depends upon the quality of your sleep. Majority of your brain’s ability to function properly relies on the amount of sleep, the quality of your diet, and how hydrated you are which makes sleep a top priority in taking care of yourself. Additionally, your mindset dictates the quality of your day and how you perceive as well as react to situations in life. Incorporating words of affirmation and practicing gratitude are both life changing ways to establish a positive mindset and become the best version of yourself.

planner of goals on a desk with scissors and paper clips

Treat Yourself

My favorite part about centering myself is indulging in activities that help me feel put together from an external perspective. Booking a hair appointment, getting your nails done, going shopping, or going out to eat food are fun ways to spice up your daily routine and add a boost of self confidence. Even doing something simple like going to a local café, and getting a coffee or your drink of choice can help lighten your internal state.

treat yourself neon sign

Relaxation

Relaxation is an essential part of practicing self care and regenerating your mental health. This can be found in many forms based on what you personally feel allows you to fully relax and focus on being in the present moment. If laying in bed and taking a nap is what gets you to recenter and relax, then that’s exactly what you need to do. Other activities like binge watching comfort movies or TV shows, reading a book, or creating vision boards on Pinterest are all wonderful options for relaxation as well. Lighting a candle and getting cozy is also a great way to decompress.

woman laying in hammock reading a book with a hat on

The Importance of Self Care and Mental Health

Without being mindful of the ways that help you cope with the stress of everyday life, you are living in a harder reality than you need to be. The negative toll that stress and anxiety hold over your mind and body are incredibly extreme, oftentimes resulting in major health problems over time like high blood pressure. Self care is an underrated method in our society to counteract battles with mental health, although it is becoming more widely accepted and practiced. It’s imperative, especially as a college student, to look after yourself and take measures when necessary to avoid burnout. In the past, doing little things for yourself every day wasn’t labeled as self care, but now there is a revitalization of making it a priority to care for yourself. The current reality we exist in and experience can be filled with stressful situations, which makes it imperative to tune into ourselves and what we need, even for a moment, to block out so much of the outside noise.

sticky notes saying: eat healthy, exercise, sleep well, keep things simple, and think positively