So, I’ve noticed that, personally, maybe there’s been a lack of attention to my wellbeing these past few weeks leading up to Spring Break. With midterms, with responsibilities concerning my involvements and with whatever inner emotional turmoil that has been plaguing the depths of my psyche, it really seems as though self-care has really taken a back seat in this run-down car that I’ve been driving for, seemingly, this whole semester. The check engine light has been on this whole time, and, at this point, I’m too afraid to ask what’s wrong with it.
I don’t think people were lying when they told me spring semester hits harder than fall. But, just like nearly every piece of advice anyone ever gave me heading into my first year here at Florida State, I smiled and nodded when they told me and immediately forgot about it as soon as they were gone. Yes, I overpacked for move-in. Yes, I took an eight a.m. lecture. Yes, I rented some textbooks and never used them. However, there was one unforeseen circumstance that I’ve run into this semester that nothing could have prepared me for. That unforeseen circumstance is struggling with self-care.
There’s an issue I’ve noticed within the general spheres of college and student life in general. It’s the idea of “hustle culture.” I think it happens mostly because we want other people to think that we’re hardworking individuals, and maybe it is a little bit of a flex to say you were able to sit down and do weeks of work in one night with nothing but an energy drink to get you through, but I digress. It’s not a bad thing to want others to think you’re working hard, but when that work ethic turns into a bad influence on your mental health, it’s a good time to step back and reevaluate. It’s the one big caveat of being involved on campus—sometimes, you do too much too quickly, and you stop caring for yourself.
Self-care looks like a lot of different things—it’s flowery scented baths and face masks and getting a haircut, sure. But I think for me, one of the biggest aspects of self-care that I’ve been neglecting this semester is a commitment to my overall health.
At the time I’m writing this article, I’ll have missed going to the gym for nearly a month and a half. The only time I really eat vegetables is on the occasion I can get into Suwannee using a friend’s guest swipe. And, perhaps the most relatable, I can’t remember the last time I truly got a good night’s rest—especially seeing as how I’ve been going to bed closer and closer to the time of the sunrise with each day.
So, enter spring break. A time for sunshine, for sleeping in, for eating your mom’s homecooked meals and maybe just a little bit of studying.
I don’t think there’s one all-encompassing solution to all these struggles I’ve been having, and I certainly don’t think it’s something that can be solved in full over one single break. But I do believe that Spring Break gives us the opportunity to be able to take a step back and reevaluate—to get back on a healthy sleep schedule, to get back on a gym grind. The biggest challenge will be taking a step back and caring for my own well-being after working so hard for so long, all without feeling guilty for everything else I could be doing to get ready to finish out the semester.
I think the key to Spring Break is making time for yourself very intentional. I’ve come to realize that I shouldn’t feel guilty about wasting time caring for my health because it’s not actually wasting time. I’m not wasting time by getting a few more hours of sleep instead of waking up early to study—I’m taking intentional time to do something that will make me feel better, and I shouldn’t have to feel guilty about that. The human body can only do so much, and every day I spent this semester staying up late to finish an assignment was just another day I spent churning out sub-par work just to suffer through the next day running on caffeine. So, I guess the question is this: How much of my health am I willing to sacrifice just to turn in work I’m not even proud of?
All this to say, maybe it is tempting to use Spring Break to catch up on schoolwork. I certainly know that I’ll be cracking open my notes from time to time, but Spring Break is exactly that—a break. You’ve come this far, and you’re just that much closer to the finish line. Your textbooks will still be there when you make your way back to your lecture hall, so take a load off! Your body—and your grades—will thank you.
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