While taking care of our responsibilities and commitments, we often forget to take care of ourselves. So what exactly is self-care? Self-care is when you take care of your own emotional, mental, physical and spiritual needs. A proper self-care routine can help you stay fit physically, mentally and emotionally. For students who might be dealing with the stress of admissions, board exams, entrance exams and peer pressure, here are a few tips to take care of yourself. You can follow either one or all of them.
Never underestimate the power of some quiet time. Whether it is five minutes or 10 minutes use this window to just sit with your own thoughts. You will be surprised at what you learn about yourself during that time. It is lovely to be surrounded by people you love all the time. But sometimes, your focus should only be you. This time is for yourself, and for you to acquaint yourself with the thoughts in your head.
Find a Hobby
Do not sit idle, especially during vacation time. Find a hobby you love. It could be drawing or it could be teaching underprivileged children. But do what makes you feel better from inside. Some people prefer keeping a written journal; some prefer keeping an art journal. And there are some who prefer to organize their books or clean their room.
Exercising is beneficial in more than one way. Apart from physical fitness, exercising regularly releases endorphins in your body. These hormones are responsible for making you feel happy. Find a gym buddy or exercise on your own with your favorite music. Even 30 minutes of exercise can have a profound impact on your body and mind. So don’t be lazy and get up from the sofa.
Find A Way To Release Your Thoughts
It’s the constantly circling thoughts in your head that might do you more harm than good. Find a way to get rid of these thoughts. You can talk to a therapist (there’s no shame in that) or you can talk to a close friend or family member. Sometimes, we need some sort of external help to make sense of and organize our thoughts.
Students are at an age where meditation seems boring. But this is another way to calm your mind. Even if you only sit down for a few minutes each day, meditation can help you focus better. Meditation can be a good way to clear your head before an exam or important interview.
Talk To People You Love
When we are worried, instead of talking to people we love, we shut them out. That is the worst thing you can do to yourself. Whenever you need to, pick up the phone and call a close friend. Do you study away from home? Call your parents or siblings and talk to them regularly. It is a guaranteed stress buster. The best thing to do is just call up your mom. She will always be willing to listen to everything you have to say.
Fries, burgers, shakes, and soda, sounds tempting right? As we all know, junk food is terrible for the body. But did you know that it is terrible for your soul as well? You see —all this makes you sluggish while slowing you down. Add veggies, fruits, pulses and other healthy food to your diet. In a couple of weeks, you will definitely see a change in yourself.
Release Your Anger
Don’t let your anger fester. Either talk to the person you are angry at or find a way to let go of it. Some people do not prefer confrontations. In that case, you can take up an activity that helps you get rid of these feelings. Boxing or running are good options. And maybe there is a place in your city where you can break stuff and release your anger, for a price of course.
A fixed time to go to sleep and a fixed time for waking up: sounds boring right? Students get very less sleep because they are either studying or on their gadgets late into the night. These late night excursions result in less sleep, which in turn has a negative effect on your entire day the next morning. Fixing the number of hours you sleep ensures that your body is well rested, which is important. If you are physically tired due to lack of sleep, it will affect everything activity you do that day.
Take A Vacation
You will realize this, as you grow a little older, that vacations are important. Even if you’re in school or college, take mini trips on the weekends with your parents or friends. This is the time you will get the opportunity to recharge and rejuvenate your mind. And if taking a vacation is not an option at the moment, there are other ways mentioned in this article to help you relax.
Write one Positive thing a day
Focus on the good things in your life. Take a few minutes each day to write one positive thing that happens that day. Keep all these little notes in a jar. Maybe a month or two later, when you are feeling particularly low, you can open up the jar and remind yourself of all the good things in your life. This is a good reminder of how lucky you are to be where you are right now. Don’t underestimate the power of positive actions in your life.
These self-care tips might sound simple. But once you start practicing them, they will have a large impact on your life. At times, it becomes important to look inwards and ask yourself, am I ok? And if you are not, it might be time to develop a self-care routine that works for you. Remember, it is ok to ask for help. It is ok to not be strong all the time, and it is perfectly fine when you need to take some time out for yourself.