Hello, lovelies. Self-Care has become a bit of a buzz word in the last few years. While I think the intentions are good, it’s become a way to glamorize a lot of luxuries that we don’t necessarily need to include in our daily lives. Because of that, I picked five, bare-bones, daily tasks that help us maintain our mental health. I hope it helps.
1.//Getting Enough Sleep
You knew this one was coming. I am a big endorser of sleep. College definitely has a hustle culture, where students will stay up all night to finish assignments and live off of coffee. That’s not a healthy way to live. Because I know that I can’t function without sleep, I haven’t pulled a single all-nighter since starting college. (I would literally pass out on my walk to class.) Getting a massage once a month will not rejuvenate me as much as a full night of sleep will, no matter what Pinterest says. That’s why it’s a huge priority in my self-care plan.
2.//Eating Three Meals A Day
I love to eat and almost never skip meals, but I definitely put off meals for a few hours when I’m super focused on a task. Particularly in the last few months, I’ve noticed how easy it is to forego a meal when you prioritize other things and don’t schedule a time to eat. Sleep and food are your energy. You can’t get things done (without losing your mind) when you don’t have energy. The next time you notice that you’ve barely eaten all day, take a break and enjoy a meal. Your work will still be there when you get back.
3.//Practicing Personal Hygiene
This includes basic things like taking a shower, brushing your teeth, and getting fully dressed in the morning. I don’t think you need to put on makeup and do your hair every day, but it that makes you feel better and more confident, I would consider that to be a part of self-care. There is a huge difference in my productivity level between the times I shower and the times I put my unwashed hair in a ponytail (I have very oily hair). I feel so much more put together when I don’t skip showers, which is why I prioritize them. Maybe curling your hair in the morning does that for you. I think hygiene habits are one of the first to go when times are busy, which is why I’d consider this a pillar of self-care.
4.//Interacting With People
In the last point, I said that hygiene was ONE OF the first things to go during busy seasons, but I definitely think this one goes first. Even if you are an introvert, you need some form of social interaction during the day. When I don’t have deep genuine human interaction for long periods of time, there’s a huge downward shift in my mood. I feel a huge difference in my mental health and general satisfaction with my day when I have at least one conversation with a friend or family member. It makes all the difference. (Hugs help too.)
5.//Moving Your Body
I’ve been feeling sort of “eh” recently because I haven’t been working out every day. Even though I’ve been super productive with school and going out with friends, my energy level feels off because I haven’t been going to the gym Monday through Friday. You’d think I would have learned this by now. Regular exercise does big things like decrease chronic health risk and helps with weight loss, but it has also been proven that regular exercise can make you feel happier. It reduces your stress level, decreases feelings of depression and anxiety, and increases your energy level, which is why everyone should make it part of their routine. I don’t necessarily think this means going to the gym every day. Creating time to go on walks, dance in your bedroom, and taking the stairs will make a difference.
Related – A Practical Guide To Working Out Regularly In College
This post was certainly shorter than most of what I write, but I didn’t want to make this a long list of tasks. There are so many things you can do to practice self-care like read or meditate, but I just wanted this post to touch on the basics. Future posts will likely be longer. I’m in the process of getting ahead on blog posts (which almost never happens) because I have a lot of exams next week. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get that done.
Related:
- How To Make A College Self-Care Plan (Plus A Look At Mine)
- How To Prevent College Burnout | Motivation, Productivity, Self-Care, Etc
- 8 Ways To Practice Self-Care During Finals Week
I’d Appreciate Your Support Of This Blog By Following Me On:
Which of these self-care fundamentals do you tend to skip?