Despite how TikTok influencers make it look, your self-care rituals do not need to be aesthetic. Or, they could be! If you are the type of girl who loves a matching yoga set and a perfect meditation practice – I wish I was you. Get it! My self-care is a lot less picture-perfect, and that is okay! The point of self-care is to find what calms and grounds YOU. Whatever works, works! Here is my perfect self-care night. Â
Snacks:Â
An essential part of my ritual is having the perfect selection of snacks and sweet treats. For me and my roommate, this is Walmart brand ice cream and Mac & Cheese. We splurge… on a budget. We also occasionally dabble into our cheese ball bucket. If we are really feeling fancy, we go through the Taco Bell/KFC drive-thru in our college town. Eat the food that fuels your soul- for us that’s fiesta potatoes.Â
Something to Watch:Â
I am much more of a show person than a movie one. My one exception to this is When Harry Met Sally, but otherwise you can find me currently watching Abbott Elementary, Gilmore Girls, or Anne with an E. Honestly, I have a relatively short attention span. After an hour or two, I scroll on TikTok. I am not ashamed of this either! My self-care is about letting my brain relax and mindless scrolling does that for me. Â
Shower:Â
This seems obvious, but it can be really relaxing to take a nice hot shower with no rush. On nice nights in, I get to wash my hair way the way I really like. I have naturally wavy hair, and it is so nice to make my curls look the way I want them to. Even if I have to wear shower shoes.Â
Face care:Â
When I do not practice self-care on my face, I get stubborn acne. Even when I wash my face continually it still happens. Regardless of whether it works or not, it makes me FEEL like a clean girl aesthetic. Whether you use retinol and exfoliants or use the Dollar Tree face masks, do what makes you feel good (I am both those people)! I bought myself a fuzzy headband from Ulta just to feel posh while I wash my face with Target face wash. Â
Debrief:Â
I try to spend a little time debriefing and reflecting on my day. This could be prayer, calling my cousin, looking through my camera roll and BeReal, or even ranting into a Google Doc. Any time I spend reflecting allows me to get my emotions without always taking it to a private story – which is okay too! Even just laughing with my friends about a funny story from class gives me time to consider how I spent the day. Â
This is just what works for me. College is so hard with our busy schedules (both academically and socially). Take the time you need for yourself and listen to your body!
What is your perfect night-in? Â