This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Northwestern chapter.

Self- care. Easier said than done right? The media, film even celebs such as Lady Gaga to Solange rave about the importance and benefits of completing self-care, but what is it? Self-care is the act of realizing and identifying your needs while making sure that they are being met and taken care of. The concept of self-care is not relatively new, but the term and practices are. Below are my top ten self-care practices:

Taking time to eat food and drink water

As a busy college student with many different meetings, assignments and classes to attend it can be hard to prioritize eating and drink water daily. Making time to eat at least twice a day will do wonders for yourself and can give you time for a much needed break. Water also helps to flush out toxins and keep your body in check!

Time off of your phone

This is very challenging, but if you make an active effort to spend time off of your phone and off of social media this can help you so much! One app that I have found helpful is this one called Moments which tracks the amount of times you pick up your phone and how many minutes/hours you spend on it. This app changed my view on how we are now socialized to only connect via technology and social media. Taking a small break from technology does wonders for you mentally.

Journaling

Journaling helps a lot with putting a lot of your mental and emotional experiences down on paper for your eyes only. You don’t have to journal every experience, but just ones that particular leave you feeling drained and exhausted. I think even doing a five minute check-in with yourself can help with creating space for your own emotions and experiences.

Meditate and Practice mindfulness

This is a self-care practice that I have recently incorporated into my life. There are many different apps (Headspace and Calm are really good ones!) and even youtube videos that can help you with meditating. The point of meditating/mindfulness is to get out of your head and into the feeling of your body through constant focus. Doing a small practice for 5 minutes helps train you to live in the moment.

Showering

Kind of a given especially since we are all human and naturally smell not so fresh, but placing the importance of showering is important. I like exfoliate my body in the shower, and take time to wash off the day that I had.

Taking a walk

Step outside and smell the wonderful fresh air! Walking helps clear the mind as well as brings a new change of scene. My favorite places to take a walk are near bodies of water, in a garden or through a quiet neighborhood.

Exercising

Physical exercise does wonders for your body, mental health and mood. It is hard to get started working out, but even just spending 20 minutes walking/jogging can help clear the funk you are in. There also many YouTube videos that have quick 10 to 15 minute workouts for you to do if you feel a crunch for time

Therapy

I wish everyone had the opportunity to go to therapy. Therapy has taken care of a lot of my mental and emotional health while providing space for me to express my feelings fully. Finding a good therapist can be challenging so the first step would be to look via your insurance to find clinics that accept your insurance. In addition, if money is an issue you can ask if the practice works on a sliding scale.

Watching old TV shows

I love watching old That So Raven and Hannah Montana; old tv shows take me back to when I was young girl propped up in front of her tv screen excited for the new episodes. I use TV as a way to momentarily escape, involve myself in someone else’s daily problems, and have a good ole belly laugh.

Cry it out

Sometimes all you need is a good cry. How many times when you have cried you have said “man I really wish I would have not done that?”. Crying really helps to release built up emotion as well as allow you to be human for a while.

These are a few of my favorite and this list of course is not exhaustive. Please take the time you need to care for yourself and make yourself feel whole. The journey to healing and self-care is not easy, but taking it day by day can help you feel more like yourself!

Cover image from pexels.com

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