You Gotta Nourish to Flourish
September is National Self-Care Awareness Month! Take some time out of your week to give yourself some love with these simple and fun activities.
Meditate
Find a quiet place and sit in a comfortable position. Take a couple deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Then, close your eyes and focus on bringing your breath in and out of your nose. Try to clear your mind. If that’s too hard, think of a few empowering phrases to repeat in your head. Some examples are “I am strong.” “I am capable.” “I am calm.” Keep repeating these phrases until you feel relaxed. Even 30 seconds of slow, concentrated breathing can calm your senses and bring your focus to the present moment.
Get Your Rest
We all hate 8 a.m. classes. WE KNOW! And when you’re up late the night before finishing that research paper, it’s the worst. You start relying on coffee, and before you know it you’re a walking zombie! Make sure to set aside some time for a short nap or plan to go to bed a bit earlier on occasion. You’ll feel much better about yourself when you get those extra ZZZs.
Inspiration is Key
Ted Talks. Podcasts. Books. Music. All these media forms are great places to find inspiration for your greatest passions and interests. Whether it’s comical, educational, or spiritual, enjoy a little entertainment here and there.
Pour it All Out on Paper
Writing down your thoughts and feelings may make it easier to understand them and deal with them. Journaling can be a creative way to express yourself and a fun way to look back on your memories and track progress. We know you have an old diary hiding in a box somewhere at home with all your juicy middle school drama! Try writing down 5 things you’re grateful for each day to help lift your spirits.
Declutter
Where is my favorite blue T-shirt? And my other black sock!? Did I forget my water bottle?!? These are the questions we ask when we’re sprinting out the door to make it to class on time. Save the stress and clean up a little bit each week, so you don’t have that frantic frenzy every morning. Put everything in it’s designated place so you know exactly where to find it when it’s needed! Marie Kondo would be proud.
Know When to Say “No”
Have you ever heard of “FOMO”? It stands for the “Fear Of Missing Out.” Perhaps you get invited to hang out with friends when you’d really rather sleep or spend extra time studying for that test that’s worth 50% of your grade. Then you think, “But if I don’t go, I’ll miss out on all the fun! Something crazy will happen and I won’t understand the inside jokes! I won’t be in any of the pictures that they post to Instagram!” You’ve gotta learn what’s really worth your time. Sure, you might miss out on some pictures or funny conversations, but is that really the end of the world? Your health is more important in the long run, and all your friends will be wishing they had more to time to study when that test comes along.
Pamper Yourself
Set aside some “me time” to do things you’ve really been needing to do. Take that warm shower. Dive into a good book. Go for a long walk. Get a massage or maybe a new haircut! Treat yourself to something special every now and then because YOU DESERVE IT! You are awesome, and we know how hard life can be sometimes.
Hopefully these activities will help you feel more confident and relaxed. And just because September is National Self-Care Awareness Month, that doesn’t mean you can’t continue it all year round. Just remember, SELF CARE ISN’T SELFISH!
