Self-Care for the Autumn Months

Going back to college from summer break isn’t always easy. Some of us are tired from working all summer, others of us wish we could have stayed in a tropical paradise full of unforgettable memories, and others still maybe just had to break it off with our summer fling–which is never any fun. As the days get gloomier and the homework load gets heavier, being back can sometimes feel overwhelming, stressful and for some college students it can seriously affect their mood and energy. In a 2009 study done by the American College Health Association, they found that nearly 30% of college students reported feeling “so depressed that it was difficult to function” at some time in the past year. As the winter season approaches, I want to give out some tips and tricks to implement in your life for that extra boost this quarter! 

Mental Exercise:

• Guided meditation is a fun and easy way to relax! You can shoot for meditating for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night. If you’re unsure how to meditate, there are several groups on campus that practice yoga, or you can find many helpful videos on YouTube. This always allows me to feel more positive throughout the day and helps me sleep at night. 

Youtube: Loving Kindness Meditationby UNH Health & Wellness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz7cpV7ERsM

Spotify: Breaking Beyond– Daily Guided Meditations by Jill Pape Lemke 

https://open.spotify.com/show/2auPQLHnWnId8lLcOHK33q?si=zKGr7kjJSVaUPN6B-M5JjA

• Read a book that inspires your spirit and makes you feel understood. Even though college requires a lot of reading and writing, there are times where reading something of your choice, preferably a self-help book or even a fiction book can help put you in a different and healthier state of mind! 

All About Loveby Bell Hooks

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach  

• Songs with 432Hz healing frequencies: this type of music has a way to make you feel more relaxed and is proven to raise your vibrations as well as heal whatever you may be going through at the moment. 

Spotify: 432Hz Miracle Tone: Raise Positive Vibrations– PowerThoughts Meditation Club

https://open.spotify.com/album/50fiKeo6rrlx59k0Wd14nt?si=l61T5NdGRjiBBKISY4PqSA

Physical Exercise (if you are able to):

• Weekend walks/hikes are great for improving your mood. Even if it’s in the city, going outside has been proven to increase dopamine in the brain! There are also parks around Seattle or places nearby with more greenery to help you feel closer to nature. So go gather some friends or solo-trip it outside–you’ll see how much better you’ll be feeling by the end of it! 

Poo-poo point:Issaquah, WA

Rattlesnake Lake: North Bend, WA

Lake Washington:Seattle, WA

Magnuson Park: Seattle, WA

Green Lake:Seattle, WA

• Group exercise classes–this is a great way to get involved with your local community and people with the same interests as you! It’s also a great way to make friends and keep active while doing fun things in your free time. 

Rock climbing:Seattle Bouldering Project

https://seattleboulderingproject.com/

Dancing: Century Ballroom

http://www.centuryballroom.com/home/

Hot Yoga: Modo Yoga Seattle ($5 donation classes every Friday night at 7:30pm)

https://seattle.modoyoga.com/

Self-care routines:

• Organize and clean your room. A healthy space is a healthy mind. Even if it’s a drawer or something small, sometimes it can help motivate you to feel cleaner and less overwhelmed! 
• Create a space that makes you feel comfortable. Light some candles, turn the lights down low, sleep with a cozy blanket, put items inside your space that make you smile! Especially if you live in a dorm, making it a cozy, livable, comfortable space is super important.
• Take a warm bath or shower with lavender essential oil and baking soda! These two ingredients mixed together have been proven to release toxins from the body and help soothe and relax. 
• Putting lavender essential oil on top of your pillow before you go to sleep at night kickstarts relaxation and allows for an easier time falling asleep 

Lavender essential oil– $28 on doTERRA

I hope that these few tips & tricks are helpful to get you out of bed and motivated to push through these dark and gloomy months ahead of us. Always remember that you are capable of handling anything the universe throws at you with grace and dignity, no matter what it may be. When you start taking care of your mental & physical health, the results will begin to show. I hope that by implementing and making a habit of just a few things on this list, you can pause, de-stress and live a life filled with more loving kindness, both towards yourself and others.

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