As a student myself who’s doing online school right now, I’ve felt many different emotions. I’ve experienced burnouts and have been overwhelmed with everything that’s been going on around me. However, I know that I’m not alone in this, so I’ll share what I’ve been doing to feel sane and calm at times. Additionally, I’ve also asked some of my friends how they’ve been practicing self-care.
A good friend of mine from biology class said: “I lie on my bed and rest. I need time alone, meaning playing with my cat in my room, which is a way for me to recharge.” Her way of practicing self-care basically allows her to connect with others, to let go of any baggage and stress through talking to someone like her cat; her cat is an occasional listener that is willing to respond back to her words. Sometimes when she rests and takes 30 minute naps, she wakes up feeling slightly confused but alive and ready to take on the world. If there’s any advice she would like to give to anyone in terms of self care, she said “go sleep.” Take a break when your body tells you to.
Another friend who would like to remain anonymous said: “Setting boundaries, saying no. Not taking on every responsibility, and knowing my limits. Dropping commitments I can’t handle. Not taking the role of a therapist. I also take time to do hobbies and meditate.” By setting boundaries, it’s allowed her to “feel a lot better”. My friend used to feel “bitter and obligated to take on every responsibility” and felt “awful” afterwards. They felt like they didn’t have enough “energy left for themselves.” Their advice for anyone in terms of self care, is “self care is not selfish, it’s necessary. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll feel awful.”
Erin, a friend I made this year, said: “Me time, which includes drawing, listening to music, and also for some reason tidying my room and then taking a shower really helps.” Her advice is “find out what works for you and realize everyone is different. And self care is a continuous process and takes time.”
Now that you’ve heard from my friends about their self-care activities and advice, here’s how I practice self care. Usually, 20 minutes before I go to bed, I like to sit at a particular desk near my bed and just journal. I write whatever I want, from what I’m grateful for to my to-dos for tomorrow. In the background, I put on some lofi or piano music by a few composers I like. Once I’m done journaling, I say to myself, “Today is a done day, let go of regrets and look forward to tomorrow.” This is just one way I practice self-care. My advice for anyone is don’t overlook the importance of self-care, especially for the sake of productivity. Taking care of yourself is a form of productivity.
Remember, self-care no matter what place or time is a life-long journey, a journey of self-discovery and healing. If you don’t take care of yourself, how can you take care of the people you love?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My name is Emily and I'm an ordinary person who aspires to do something extraordinary. My hobbies include baking, reading, journaling, writing, and sometimes attempting new things. Most importantly, I believe that every person deserves to live with promise and hope. However there are still a lot of people that have to deal with bullying every single day, thus I want to change that. I want to be part of the solution, part of the change, and as Anne Frank once said, "How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."