This is the second of two posts this week focused on self-care…it’s never too early to invest in YOU.
By Dr. Nadia Avendaño
It’s been one heck of a semester. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, you not only have to focus on your academics but on top of that, you have to remember to social distance, wear a mask everywhere, and maybe you’ve even had to quarantine. You have a lot on your plate. You probably have mixed modality courses, some online, some face-to-face, and some hybrid. This is a lot to deal with. I know I could’ve really used a Fall Break a few weeks ago. Right?
So what are you doing to take care of yourself during these stressful times? I can’t stress the importance of self-care especially now that we’re rounding the corner and in the final stretch of the semester. So what is self-care? It is the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress. So many times, we just keep going on auto-pilot without stopping to think about how we are doing.
Part of succeeding in college is staying healthy both in mind and body. Find healthy ways to decompress every day and check-in with yourself. Do you like to walk, run, jog, do yoga, meditate? These are all activities that help you declutter your mind, reset and recharge your body, as well as lower any anxiety. Eat a well-balanced diet. This is so important especially heading into the flu season. I know most college kids don’t sleep; I was one of them. Try to keep a normal sleep routine. I always stress balance, balance, balance. What do I mean by that? If you’re partying too much, then you’re not studying enough, if you’re studying too much, then you’re not socializing and getting the proper rest your body and mind need. Surround yourself with people that are good with time-management, learn from them. Part of self-care is knowing when to ask for help. If you need academic help, go to the Student Learning Center, talk to your advisors, form study groups. If you need emotional help, contact student healthy services, talk to someone that can help.
Here are some inspirational quotes that might get you through a bad day:
- “Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” …
- “Every situation in life is temporary.” …
- “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” …
- “Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.”
So to wrap up, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, take it day by day. I try to give myself tasks to do every day and when I complete them, I feel happy and accomplished. Don’t forget to treat yourself for your victories. If you’ve had a bad day, don’t be hard on yourself, there’s always tomorrow. Be grateful for that tomorrow and remember that you’re that much stronger because you have survived one more day and hopefully the strength that you’re finding in yourself is making you happier and more confident in your abilities.
Nadia Avendaño is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Director of the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program at the College of Charleston and this is her first blog.