Violet Stec is a third-year English and Professional Writing major at York University. She has a passion for creative writing and is an avid reader. In her free time, she enjoys being in nature and watching her favourite movies.
As a student, I feel that I can get caught up in everything that I need to do and can easily forget about the importance of my own mental and physical well-being.
Throughout the school year, especially during exam season, I did not practice self-care, and my emotions were intense. But as I slowly started adding little things to help me feel better, like meditation and moving my body, I noticed that I was able to better deal with stress and felt calmer.
Self-care is important for your mental and physical well-being, but it can be difficult to start. So, here are my favourite tips and tricks for building your own routine!
The benefits of self-care for students
Self-care has some great benefits, like better immune function, less risk of chronic disease, lower stress levels and improved mental clarity, which directly relates to our studies.
As university students, I think we should reframe self-care as necessary and take steps to implement it, as it can positively impact how we manage school and our personal lives. When managing different assignments and tasks, it’s good to have a routine or an outlet where you can unwind. After taking time for yourself, you will feel refreshed and will be able to return to your tasks more mindful and productive.
Pro tip: Exam season can also be a stressful time. Find more tips and resources in our YU Blog post about navigating exam anxiety.
Types of self-care that you can practice
- Physical self-care: Moving your body is a great way to do this. York’s recreation membership gives you access to intramurals, athletics programming, facilities and more – and you can access it all on campus!
- Embrace healthier eating habits: Check out resources like York’s FUEL cookbook to help with balanced eating.
- Mental and emotional self-care: Practice mindfulness through guided meditations and check out the Student Counselling, Health & Well-being (SCHW) website for journaling, yoga and breathing techniques.
- Social self-care: Spend quality time with friends, family and your community. Join a student club to connect with others that have similar interests.
- Spiritual self-care: Practice gratitude or connect with nature by taking a walk around campus.
Pro tip: York offers various supports like counselling services throughout the year.
Tips to make your own self-care routine
- Choose your type of self-care: Reflect on whether it’s your emotional, physical or spiritual needs that you want to work on. When creating my self-care routine, I wanted to focus on improving my mental well-being, so I implemented meditation.
- Start with something small: Don’t try to change your entire routine. Instead, add something to your day that can improve it, like listening to music or going for a walk, and slowly build up from there.
- Prioritize: Focus on the activity that will be most helpful to you first. If you have been feeling tired, for example, consider prioritizing your sleep routine.
- Be consistent: To get all the benefits of having a self-care routine, consistency allows you to have an escape from your daily tasks and maintain time for yourself.
The way you practice self-care is up to you. It doesn’t have to be a long routine, but something that can help you relax and take better care of yourself!
So, take a break and take some time to focus on you. Your mind and body will thank you!