student self-care: but not necessarily the feel-good kind edition
1. what have you been procrastinating on? afraid to do? make a list. put it on your google calendar. be very honest with yourself. put every single task you have to do, schedule it, block out your calendar if you have to. itβll help you in the long run even if itβs scary at first.Β 2. sort the loose papers settled at the bottom of your backpack. donβt risk losing precious class notes or syllabi or readings. use folders to classify them by subject. label them clearly. sort them by chronological order and label what class and what part of the syllabus theyβre from. youβll thank me during exam season. 3. evaluate your finances. have a way of keeping track of them. personally, i tend to spend a lot on food and coffee when iβm stressed. make a budget and stick to it.Β 4. if youβre struggling in a certain subject, make some time for it. i know itβs painful and easier to procrastinate, but make time. set a certain quota of pages to read. email your professor for help and consult if you have to.Β
5. eating healthy isnβt necessarily eating delicious. i know everyone posts their croissants and lattes and cakes (guilty) but eat that salad, eat your vegetables, eat a balanced diet. itβs brain food and itβll sustain you and help you focus better. 6. take the time to really care for yourself. make it a routine. take daily walks, count the glasses of water you have, make sure to shower regularly. do your laundry and clean your room. take your medication regularly, schedule doctorβs appointments if you need to. your health is much more important than school, and your wellbeing will help your performance. 7. sleep is good. regular sleep is good and necessary. but know when you have to sacrifice a little sleep to get things some very hard things done. then sleep after.Β self-care isnβt always pretty. sometimes itβs about being disciplined and confronting what youβre afraid of. but it will make things easier and lighter for you in the long run. just one day at a time.Β
