Treat Yourself With Kindness: Things I Do to Take Care of My Body and Mind

As someone who has grown up feeling insecure about their body, it can be hard to know where the line between self care and overindulgence is. Am I treating myself by having my favorite dessert, or harming myself because of the calories? Am I caring for my body by taking a nap, or just being lazy? These are questions that often pop up in my head, deterring me from doing the things that I want to do. But in reality, sometimes taking care of your body is doing the things that you want to do, regardless of their health benefits. Here is a list of 10 ways that I take care of my body—both the things I do because they’re “healthy,” and the things I do because I simply want to. 

1. Prioritizing a skincare routine 

I’m someone who finds having a strict skincare routine actually kind of meditative, and I enjoy taking time to make sure my skin is looking healthy and glowy. For anyone wondering, the products I use are: Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water (for removing makeup), CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser (a.m./p.m.), CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser (p.m. only), The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane (a.m./p.m.), The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Oil Control Serum (a.m./p.m.),  Peach and Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum (a.m./p.m.), The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution (p.m. only), CeraVe Moisturizing Cream (a.m./p.m.) and Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patches (p.m. only). 

2. Spending time with my cat 

I am someone who struggles with their mental health, and I didn’t realize how profoundly spending time with animals affected me until I got my cat. I grew up with dogs and have missed them terribly since moving to Colorado for school, and getting my cat at the beginning of my sophomore year has been so healing for me. I still miss my dogs of course, but having the kitty around has helped me tremendously, and I love to spend time cuddling and playing with her. 

3. Sleeping in on the weekends 

On Saturdays and Sundays, unless I have obligations, I allow myself to sleep in however late I want to. This allows me (a sleep-loving introvert) to recharge for the week ahead and recover from the previous week. I struggle a lot with getting up for class during the week, and so to reward myself for doing so, I like to let my body wake up when it wants to on weekends. 

4. Exercising 

I am not a person who particularly enjoys exercise, but it is important to make time for it. I play on the school’s field hockey team, so depending on the season, I go to practice one-to-three times a week and the gym one-to-two times. Exercise is something that I really have to force myself to make time for and something that I struggle to make time for, but I do my best to fit it into my schedule. 

5. Listening to music in the shower 

Music has a significant impact on my mood, so often, if I want to lift myself up, I’ll listen to some of my favorite music while doing ordinary things like showering, walking to class or writing Her Campus articles (hehe yes I’m listening right now). I have a vinyl player and a big collection of vinyls, so I love playing those as I’m cleaning the apartment. 

6. Reading for leisure 

As a college student, I don’t get a lot of time to read books for pleasure, but I try to make sure I fit some time in each week to read something I enjoy. I grew up loving reading and want to make sure it always stays a part of my life. I’m currently reading “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas (already read “A Court of Thorns and Roses” and I absolutely loved it!). 

7. Doing my makeup 

I love makeup and I find it a lot of fun to put on, so I’ve been making an effort to put some on every day (save weekends) for class. Makeup is something that helps me feel more confident and put-together and has really helped boost my confidence throughout the day. A few of my favorite makeup products are the Colourpop Supershock Highlighter in the shade “Flexitarian,” the Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil in the shade “Affection” and the Nyx Epic Wear Waterproof Liquid Liner in black. 

8. Getting my nails done 

Having my nails done makes me feel very put-together, similarly to how makeup does, so I’ve been making an effort to paint my nails each weekend so that they are ready for the school week. I recently got a few products from Le Mini Macaron (gel polish) that I really like and that have made the drying process a thousand times faster as someone who lacks the patience for regular polish. 

9. Getting piercings and tattoos 

This one may be pretty controversial, but I get so excited to get new piercings and tattoos that I consider them a form of selfcare. Getting to look the way I want to look helps so much with my confidence, and so every once in a while, if there’s a design or a certain piercing I’ve been wanting, I make time to go get it done (totally not talking about the navel piercing I got yesterday at IRIS Studios on Pearl Street…).

10. Watching TV 

This is something that I struggle to justify because watching TV is often seen as lazy. However, I find that making time to chill out and watch a show or movie is very beneficial in that it allows me to take time for myself and do something that I want to do, regardless of whether it is considered “healthy.” At the moment, I am switching between “Criminal Minds” and “Veronica Mars,” and I highly recommend them both for those who are interested in mystery and true crime genres. 

I hope that my experiences with caring for my body and mind have helped anyone who may need some ideas of ways they can take care of their own minds and bodies. It is important to remember that selfcare looks different for everyone, and what is considered self care for one person may not be for another. Try to remember to treat yourself with love. Everyone deserves to be loved. 

• beauty
• self-care
• wellness