Self-care is an important part of a person’s day. It is anything that you do that will help improve your physical, mental, and emotional health. Anything that you can do to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself can be considered self-care. It gives you time to relax and helps to improve your wellness and allows you to reflect on your life. Self-care can help you to manage stress and understand your thoughts and feelings. It also helps you to explore new things and figure out what you like to do. Remember that self-care shouldn’t distract you from your priorities but instead be a happy addition to your day. There are many ways to participate in self-care and allow yourself to relax.

 

Here are some ideas to get you started on your self-care journey:

1. Getting enough sleep is an important part of taking care of yourself. Students work hard every day whether it be during or after school. Sometimes sleep ends up becoming their last priority but sleep is important to maintaining your mental health. Sleep helps you to become more productive and improve your concentration. This can help improve students' academic and athletic performance. If you ever feel tired or lazy maybe consider sleeping more so that you can be more refreshed.

2. Try setting apart some time every day so that you can do something you enjoy. It’s important to have some time to have fun and let yourself relax. This can help improve your mental health and reduce your daily stress. Some fun ideas are reading, painting, or creating something. You can also go on walks or organize an event with your friends so that you can collectively take part in a self-care activity.

3. Write yourself letters every day, like a daily journal. By writing about your day you can process what happened and have a record of your experiences. You can also list things that you feel good about. You can write any goals that you have for yourself in this journal and keep track of them as time goes on. Writing goals allows you to look towards the future and it can help to boost your mood. Also, planning fun events for the future gives you something to look forward to.

4. Try to organize your room or the space that you work in. Decluttering your workspace can help you to clear your mind. Also, working in a clear area can help you be more productive and maybe not be as distracted when trying to work. Also, you won’t have to worry about how cluttered that area is when you’re working there so you can focus on what you’re doing.

5. Try activities such as meditation, yoga, or pilates. Meditation helps to calm your mind and is a good relaxation technique. It can promote better sleep quality and improve your mental health. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and also build your strength. Yoga and pilates are great activities to try because they can improve your overall well-being. These are both activities that you can do alone or with friends.

6. Try to put down your electronic devices for some time every day. Today, we can do everything on our phones or other devices so we don’t really give ourselves a break. Decrease your screen time by doing other activities like reading or hanging out with your family. Try not to be on your phone before going to bed because this makes it even more difficult for you to fall asleep.

 

Sources:

1. The importance of self-care. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.perimeterhealthcare.com/about/news/the-importance-of-self-care/

2. Leech, J. (2020, February 25). 10 reasons why good sleep is important. Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-why-good-sleep-is-important#3.-Good-sleep-can-improve-concentration-and-productivity

3. Tehrene Firman August 8, 2. (2019, August 08). 40 amazing Self-care tips you've never tried. Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://bestlifeonline.com/self-care-tips/

4. What is self-care and Why is it important for you? (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.snhu.edu/about-us/newsroom/2020/04/what-is-self-care#:~:text=Self%2Dcare%20is%20an%20important,is%20meant%20to%20be%20enjoyed