College students are often consumed by classes, extracurriculars, relationships, and other daily commitments. The hectic schedule can be stressful and leave little time for students to take care of themselves. But the importance of self-care can’t be denied. Taking time for yourself can yield a healthier and more enjoyable college experience. Here are a few reasons why self-care is so important.
What Is Self-Care?
Before you can understand why self-care is important, you need to understand what it is. Essentially, self-care is anything that you do for yourself that helps to keep you healthy in mind, body, and spirit. By practicing self-care you are investing in yourself and your health. Your version of self-care may look very different from your roommate’s or friends’. That’s OK. There is no one right version of self-care — what helps you to feel happy and healthy is what matters.
It Helps Your Physical Health
Most college students don’t feel like they have a lot of downtime. Between classes, meetings, and study sessions, they’re always on the move. As a result, many students don’t get enough sleep, don’t eat as well as they could, and don’t ever truly decompress. Your body needs these things in order to perform well. Self-care could mean getting more sleep or taking a power nap during the day. It could mean going to yoga with a friend, or scheduling time to eat. By practicing self-care around your physical needs, you will ensure that your body remains healthy. When you’re healthy, you are able to perform at your best every day and have the energy you need to tackle that to-do list.
It Helps Your Mental Health
According to NPR, there is a mental health epidemic on college campuses. If you are in a constant state of stress and anxiety, you will have a hard time enjoying your college experience. You’ll also find it hard to concentrate and get your work done. College can easily exacerbate existing mental health issues, and even create new ones if you’re not careful. Practicing self-care can help preserve and improve your mental health and keep you on the path to success.
It Helps You Stay Connected to Yourself
With so much going on, it’s easy to forget to check in with yourself. Are you hungry? Tired? Do you need a break from the chaos? Do you need to unplug for a bit? Taking just a few minutes each day to check in and see how you’re feeling can be a great way to stay connected to yourself. Are you stressed or anxious? If so, what can you do to change that? By regularly checking in with yourself, you’ll have a better sense of where you stand physically, mentally, and emotionally.
It Helps You Stay Connected to Others
Part of your self-care may include seeing a counselor, joining different organizations or groups, or spending more time with your friends. These are all wonderful ways to ensure that you stay connected to others who can support your self-care journey. Being able to lean on friends, family, and even licensed medical professionals, can advance your self-care so that you are healthy in mind and body.
It Can Create Lifelong Habits
Self-care is not just important in college. It is critical once you graduate and join the working world. Deadlines, difficult colleagues, families, and more responsibilities all create stress and anxiety once you leave the college bubble. The self-care practices you create in college can be incredibly beneficial later as you navigate life after college.
Self-care is not one size fits all, and it’s not something you do once and then forget about. In order for self-care to be truly effective, you need to incorporate it into your daily life. What that looks like is entirely up to you. The benefits are many and can help you create a positive college experience that you will look back on fondly.
On Topic
Karuna Schwartz is the director of Individual Giving for AISES. When she isn't busy connecting donors with the AISES vision of the next seven generations of Native people to be successful, respected, influential, and contributing members of our vast and ever-changing global community, you will find her running, hiking, skiing, riding her motorcycle, and guiding meditation. Schwartz lives on the land of the Cheyenne and Ute people in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs, a cat, and seven chickens.
The pandemic shined the light on the benefits of self-care. What are some examples of self-care that are effective for students? How can they incorporate self-care into their routines?
I'd like to start off by saying that self-care is in no way selfish. In fact, caring for ourselves is one of the best things we can do for others. It's like putting your oxygen mask on first so that you can help people around you on an airplane. Life is stressful at the moment, and it is especially so for students. I remember those long days of classes that led to long evenings in the library preparing for midterms and finals. I also know from my time guiding meditation and teaching others mindfulness techniques, that sometimes we don't know where to begin self-care.
Here are my favorite three self-care techniques you can do almost anytime and anywhere:
• Walking outside. Even if exercise isn't your jam, walking mindfully outside can reset your nervous system. Whether it is pre-test jitters or an evening without enough sleep, building 15 minutes into your day to walk outside and feel your feet on the ground and the breeze on your face is a great way to calm down your nervous system and reset your mental outlook on life. Whether it is warm or cold, raining or clear, with the right layers and footwear, every day is a good day for a nourishing walk.
• Intentional breathing. Anytime you feel anxiety or stress, stop and take three full and satisfying breaths — I recommend breathing in through the nose, taking a little pause, and then elongate the exhale. Feel the breath throughout your body from the inside out and remind yourself that you've got this!
• Unplugging one night per week. Listen to music, read a book for fun, hang out with friends — all while leaving your mobile device turned off. This will allow you to be present with yourself and with the people around you. Unplugging can feel edgy at first, but you may find you begin looking forward to unplugging for a few hours each week.
Finally, remember that laughter really is some of the best medicine. Be sure to surround yourself with people who bring you joy. If you find yourself closing down and forgetting to have some fun, that's when it's important to connect with others and to have a good laugh.
