It’s no secret that the first year of university is a total rollercoaster, full of change and expectations. Everyone will tell you to take care of yourself, but few will tell you how to do it. When you hear the phrase, “self-care,” you might picture something of a spa day, but self-care as a student is about much more than that. Here are just a few tips to help you stay on track.
KEEP UP WITH YOUR HOBBIES
When your schedule gets a little crazy, it’s easy to get swept up in the chaos of maintaining schoolwork and a social life, but it’s important to have something just for you, too. Having a casual hobby is a great way to unwind, and to bring you back to yourself. It doesn’t have to be something you do regularly, but it should be something fun or relaxing. An easy, low-effort hobby I come back to every once in a while is making collages. Grab some magazines, stickers and pens, lay out some blank pages, and you’re good to go!
GET INVOLVED
Sometimes self-care means stepping out of our comfort zones and broadening our horizons. A great way to do this is by joining a club. There are all kinds: some for networking opportunities, some for exercise, some that may be related to your studies, and tons that are just for fun. Regardless of what club you choose to join, it will add something meaningful and social to your plate. While joining a club can be intimidating at first, you shouldn’t be afraid to just go for it. Most groups are always looking for new members, and you might have even more fun than you thought!
Being part of a club can also provide a much-needed outlet, and can bring more variety to your schedule. For me, I joined the university’s dance club in my first year, which quickly became a highlight of my university experience thus far—it allowed me to connect with people that weren’t just in my classes or who lived in the same residence as I did, and it filled my evenings with a fun activity.
TREAT YOURSELF
The best way to treat yourself is to give yourself time to look forward to it. For example, my favourite place to grab a coffee is Starbucks, but if I went every single day, it wouldn’t be as special (and my bank account wouldn’t be too happy). I like to pick one or two days a week to fit it into my schedule, and that way I stay motivated to power through my week so I can get to my Friday morning iced shaken espresso.
Another way to indulge as a reward is to give yourself the “night off.” Put on a funny show, do a face mask, paint your nails, eat your favourite dinner or snack, and get all the rest you need. Choose a night in advance, so you can finish everything you need to do ahead of time and enjoy your evening without any procrastination or guilt.
BE SELFISH (IN THE BEST WAY!)
Being selfish with your time (i.e., doing what’s best for you) goes far in the long run, and is a key skill to master. In university, most people get to have much more jurisdiction over their choices than they ever have before. No one is monitoring your every move—I know that for myself, my parents certainly aren’t texting me every day about staying on top of my readings and assignments, and my friends aren’t either! This means that it becomes your own responsibility to make decisions about how to manage your time. When you get a text asking to hang out on a night you were planning on studying, it’s easy to just give into FOMO-driven temptations. It might annoy your friends if you say no, but then again, that studying isn’t going to just do itself.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
In terms of maintaining your mental health and physical wellness, all the suggestions you may hear from healthcare professionals—getting eight hours of sleep, regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and journalling—are great places to start. There are plenty of resources for students on campus to access through the university to assist with this process.
The key to self-care is maintaining balance in your life while holding yourself accountable. If you “treat yourself” to a movie night every night, while avoiding the other tasks you have to do, it isn’t self-care—it’s procrastination. University is a great time to figure out how you can best set yourself up for success in multiple areas of your life; use this time to learn how to better manage your life in a way that works for you!