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Love yourself. Respect yourself. Admire yourself.

Statements encouraging self acceptance are scattered across social media, but their meanings quickly become ambiguous without a definitive plan. Sure, I can say I’m going to “love myself” today, but how am I putting those words into action? Knowing how to prioritize yourself can help you practice these sometimes empty affirmations.

Here are 3 ways to make sure you’re putting yourself first to maintain a happier and more productive mindset.

Do more of what you love

Self care begins with recognizing exactly what brings you happiness and setting aside time for that activity. Work on a creative project you’ve been putting off. Catch up on the newest season of your favorite show. Treat yourself to a nice meal. You’ll feel recharged once you spend a few hours focusing on nothing but your own well-being.

Learn to say no

There’s something SO empowering about saying no. Of course, you should always decline an invitation or request politely, but prioritizing yourself means knowing when to make decisions that benefit you, without feeling guilty. You don’t have to do everything, and you shouldn’t. It’s okay to be selfish and consider your own feelings before others’ when asked to do something.

Embrace your emotions

Suppressing how you feel can only undermine your happiness. Prioritize your emotions with frequent sessions of self-reflection, and express your honest feelings out loud or in a journal. In a digital world overflowing with uplifting Pinterest quotes, it’s okay to acknowledge the bad days too.

Finding balance may not always be easy, but making time to prioritize yourself will encourage greater satisfaction and positivity. Figure out how to implement each strategy in your own life and hold yourself accountable to your plan. Love yourself, but do it with a specific intention.

Happy New Year ‘Noles! With the new semester starting rather quickly, new and different adventures are calling our names waiting for us to try them out. Here is a list we’ve compiled of fun activities you can try with your roommates, best buds, or significant other! Whether you’ve taken these ventures already or need something new to try, take this blog post as your push to go out and #FindWhatMovesYou.

Group Fitness Class

At Campus Rec, we offer over 60 Group Fitness classes a week! Take your buddy and try a new class that you’ve never done before. Go ahead and download the FSU Rec App, check our daily schedule of classes and register 25 hours before the class of your choosing. From spinning to yoga, pilates to F45, there’s so many different options for you and your besties to try!

Adventure on new Trails

Cascades Park. Lafayette. Stadium Drive. St. Marks. Lake Ella. Apalachicola. Lake Jackson. All these options are great places to take a brisk walk with your loved ones. Walking outside, on a trail through the trees, is a great way to get your exercise in while also enjoying the great outdoors. What's great about hiking through these trails in the Spring is how beautiful the weather is!

Challenge Course at the Rez

The Rez is the perfect place to be this Spring. As mentioned before, the weather is impeccable during the months of January to March (keep in mind: April showers!). Take time out of your busy schedule to complete the Challenge Course as a way to build your relationships with your besties. The Challenge Course was built to create better bonds with the people you complete it with, so go out to the Rez and lead yourselves to victory, together!

Watch a movie at the SLC

This task should be on everybody's graduation bucket list! If you have never seen a movie at the SLC, you are truly missing out. The SLC shows multiple movies every month for free, all you have to do is snag a spot before the showing times. Check the times for the SLC movies on their website (union.fsu.edu/movies) and call up your significant other or roommates for a good time!

Late Night Swim

The Leach Center pool is open until 9:45 p.m. on normal weekday hours. Jump, dive, and swim your way through spring semester with a late night pool session. Once your done with your free swim, jacuzzis, steam room, and sauna will be waiting for you in the Spa area next to the 16-lane pool. We’ll see you there!

1) Walk to class. I know that it is tempting to drive to campus, but walking is great exercise and allows you to get fresh air. Walking can be therapeutic, whether you’re listening to music or clearing your head. Plus, if you walk to campus, you have to walk back. Double the cardio!

2) Go on a bike ride. Whether this involves a stationary bike at spin class or riding your bike along a trail in Tallahassee, it is a great form of exercise. This form of cardio is easier on your body, plus I personally think it is so much fun!

3) Take the stairs. If you take the elevator up to your apartment, classroom, or office, taking the stairs is an easy way to add some cardio into your daily routine. 

4) Park farther away from an entrance. It is usually instinct to try and find the closest parking spot available, but it could be beneficial to park further away to get more steps in. 

5) Pick up a sport. If you enjoy playing sports, find an intramural team or gather some friends up for a game! Playing sports is an easy and enjoyable form of cardio!

6) Go Swimming. Swimming is a fun way to cool off and release some energy, but most people forget that it is an even better form of exercise! FSU students are lucky enough to have a huge lap pool at their disposal at the Leach.

7) Dance. Whether it is a Group Fitness dance class at the Leach, or just jumping around with your girls, dancing is such a fun way to get your cardio in. Most people choose to do this for fun, and exercise is just a secondary benefit.

8) Find another machine. If the treadmill isn’t your favorite, there are many other machines that provide a good source of cardio. Try the stair master, elliptical, or bike!

9) Try kickboxing. Kickboxing is cathartic and good for your body. This workout is a great way to blow off steam, while working up a sweat. 

Sore muscles are, well, a pain! The worst part is that you know they’re coming, post-workout, as you tread home from the gym. A main causes of muscle soreness can be vigorously exercising, but there are other reasons to this discomfort as well. Aside from the basics of treatment and prevention, such as warming up and cooling down, here are few ways you can repair your tender muscles. Practice these treatments within your daily exercise routine to prevent any aches and unpleasantness in your muscles.

Dynamic Stretching Dynamic stretching is a form of active movement that is about taking your body through ranges of motion rather than holding a stretch in place. This method is used to better prepare you for your workout or sporting activity because it increases blood and oxygen flow to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It’s important to stretch before a serious workout to reduce your risk of injury and increase your overall performance. A good dynamic warm-up should consist of a light aerobic routine incorporating major muscle groups such as squats, lunges, front kicks and back pulls.

Warm up with Cardio The whole idea of warming up is to get your heart and body warm from ultimate results. If dynamic stretching isn’t your thing, cardiovascular exercises are another great way to warm up your body, such as sprints on the treadmill or a lengthy run on the track. Cardio provides your muscles with a mild but useful stretch, which is as beneficial as a dynamic stretching routine. If you’re a bit confused on the difference between dynamic stretching and cardio exercise, think of dynamic stretching as more of a HIIT routine and cardio as a walk, jog, run, or row.

Stay Hydrated I actually sound like a broken record because I always incorporate the phrase “drink water” in all my articles, but SERIOUSLY- DRINK WATER. Staying hydrated before, during, and after your workout is important because it will prevent cramping and decrease inflammation (and muscle soreness) throughout your entire body. Think about it this way- by drinking water, you’re replenishing your body with the water it lost during exercise.

Epsom Salt Bath Soaking in a warm bath can help relax muscles and loosen stiff joints. A bonus is adding epsom salt to your warmed up tub to loosen up and unwind. Epsom salt is comprised of the minerals magnesium and sulfate and is a natural exfoliant and anti-inflammation remedy. Along with treating sore muscles as it soaks into your body through your skin, it also can be used to treat dry skin, small wounds and even to fight illness.

When you’re used to a continual routine, the holidays seem to be the hardest of times. Being home, or wherever you find yourself during the holidays, is a nice break from your usual routine. You leave your regular hectic schedule for a more chill-vibe, which sounds great, but in reality it can seem to be detrimental to your wellness goals. Once the new year hits, you seem eager and excited to get back to a set schedule. Even though you might not have fallen off track, or fell off just a bit, we're here to help. Keep these tips in mind once you get back to the grind and you’ll be back on track in no time.

Stay Active

If you’re an avid exerciser or more of a lounger, try to get up and moving. There are so many different ways to get active, such as a brisk 15 minute walk or 45 minute Group Fitness class. Whatever it is that’ll keep you operating and motivated is what you should try to do. If one of your resolutions this new year is to switch up your fitness schedule, we recommend trying our Group Fitness classes. And if one of your resolutions is to get active, we recommend heading to one of our facilities and trying out a workout!

Listen to your Cravings

We’ve all been there. Over the holidays it tends to feel like you’re always eating, emphasis on always. Snacking during parties and loading up on desert feels like an endless battle with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. With that being said, people believe it’ll all flush out if we don’t ingest anything. This is wrong. Your body needs food, water, and love in order to have energy to push through the new year. Don’t deprive yourself of anything. Instead, practice balance by paying attention to your cravings to keep your health in line with your happiness.

Drink Up!

Water is the most important component when it comes to detoxing your body. Don’t forget to stay hydrated, especially if you feel like you’re exercising more than you did over the holiday break. Keep a water bottle within arms reach wherever you go. Pro tip: if you’re trying to drink more water daily as a personal resolution, track daily intakes and try to increase your amount of bottles every week!

Keep the Pressure Low

Don’t beat yourself up about what you did over the holidays because the past is in the past. Move forward now by staying aware of the healthy lifestyle you’ve created for yourself. Don’t put pressure on yourself or make yourself stressed out. If you have a vision or end goal in mind, keep that in the back of your head to motivate you toward your goals, not to make you feel anxious.

Get Rest

Whilst using more energy, you also need proper rest. If napping can make it into your daily schedule, take advantage of that! Studies have proven that a nap somewhere between 10 and 20 minutes long is best because longer naps can cause grogginess and irritability. As for night time, take advantage of getting personal with yourself. We openly suggest journaling, or reading a book, as a way to relax and tire your eyes. Avoid using your technology as a way to get a better night sleep as well.

50 Years of Women in Sports is an accomplishment that has built many female leaders. There are many stories to be told about how athletics has left a lasting impact on our lady Seminoles. “I remember choosing to come to FSU because of how many sports were offered for women. I thought if I wanted to play a sport in college I would have a good chance at Florida State,” says Colleen Fahey, an FSU Rugby alumna whose become legendary in the Rugby community. Rugby has been a Sport Club on campus since the early 70’s, but not a lot of students are well versed in the club’s history.

“Women’s Rugby was brought onto campus by men – but that is as far as their credit goes. It was the women’s team that put FSU Rugby on the map,” Fahey claims. Florida State's Women’s Rugby ultimately served as a stepping stone to the rest of Fahey’s career. The foundation that was built while she was in the program still remains important to her today. “My biggest takeaway from my time with FSU Women’s Rugby was how it was all about teamwork. Being self-coached by an all women team was unique at the time. We had no males helping us, and the fact that it was a bunch of women working together to perform at such a high level was truly empowering. I was never overly outspoken and the fact that I came to a team that was coached by women motivated me to go on to lead and use my voice like the women before me had done.”

When freshman Fahey arrived on Florida State’s campus in the early 80’s, she knew she was where she needed to be. She joined a sorority that was known for being athletic, which brought her to Intramural Sports. Fast forward to her senior year when two of her sisters encouraged her to come out for a Rugby Club Practice. The FSU Women’s Rugby team was on the rise – with women coming from all around the South and even a few Europeans. Her first season ended better than most, as the women’s team won the National Championships that year.

One of Fahey’s favorite memories from playing at Florida State was when her team played a scrum during Florida State’s Garnet and Gold game halftime. She explained that playing in Doak and hearing a stadium full of people cheering her team on was a sound that she will never forget. That was just the beginning of her very impressive career. In her next six years of playing she was invited to play for the Eagles, better known as the USA National Rugby Team. The Eagles traveled to Wales to play in the Inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup. Not only did they play, but they won! They are to date the only American team to win the Rugby World Cup, male and female. Last year, Fahey and five other women who competed at Worlds were inducted into the United States Rugby Hall of Fame.

As a freshman, I was never getting everything I needed to get done, finished. I found myself stressing over the smallest tasks like grocery shopping because I would cram so much into some days to relax other days. This faulty cycle went on for my entire freshman year. It wasn’t until I started practicing self care acts that my life evened out and I found myself more focused than before. I didn’t wake up one day and think “I need some change”. I actually just started doing things that I enjoy and planning everything out carefully so nothing was forgotten.

The first thing I started doing was stretching everyday, or as much as my schedule allowed. I got this idea from a close friend that would always stretch whenever we were watching tv or just hanging out. Taking the time whether at night or in the morning has become essential to me. Using these few minutes for breathing and stretching out my body has helped me relax and as an added bonus become more flexible! An additional physical change I made was drinking as much water as possible. This seems so simple but it really makes a world of difference in so many aspects such as mental clarity, focus, and clearer skin. These small changes made a noticeable impact on my well-being, I was in a better mood and feeling happy throughout the day. Another change I made that slowly came into effect was rewarding myself for my triumphs, no matter how small they are. After every exam that goes well I buy myself food or a small treat. This task doesn’t have to be school oriented, maybe you hit a new PR or finished a task you have been procrastinating on. These tasks seem small but can be intimidating until you set a reward for the completion of the task.

Here are some things that help a lot of people focus on themselves:

Go on a walk alone or with a friend

Unplug for an hour from all your electronics

Journal your to-do list or anything that would help you visualize your responsibilities

Cooking your own meals

Make a schedule and be sure to prioritize the necessary things

Self care is extremely important, especially at a point in life where we’re all constantly moving with assignments, exams, and extracurriculars adding up. Taking a small amount of time out of your day to do something as simple as stretching or writing a to-do list can improve your week greatly. There are multitudes of things you can do besides the ones listed to help take better care of yourself. Find what works for you. The point of self care is to put yourself first and give yourself a break every now and again.