Though college can be an amazing experience, it can often get quite stressful, too. So here are self-care tips for college students!
Best Self Care Tips For Students
Here are some self-care tips for college students that have helped me tremendously during my fours year in university, and I think would be helpful to you, too!
1. Sit in silence and embrace quiet time
Classes, clubs, frat parties, part-time jobs… it can all start to feel a bit overwhelming. That’s why it’s so so so important to take some time for yourself whenever you can – to just sit in silence and embrace the quietness.
It can be tough to find a moment of peace amid all the chaos, but trust me, it’s worth it! Taking time to be still and clear your mind can do wonders for your mental and emotional health.
hen you sit in silence, you can listen to your thoughts, connect with your intuition, and detach from the physical world. It feels absolutely amazingggg. Personally, my quiet time is my favorite part of the day.
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2. Indulge yourself in your hobbies
I totally get it. When you’re in college, you can easily get caught up in the hustle and bustle of campus life that you forget to do things you love! And when you stop doing these things you love, depression can start creeping in.
So make sure to indulge yourself in your hobbies every once in a while, whether that means taking an hour out of your day to paint or going to a salsa class on the weekends. Trust me, your soul will thank you for it!
3. Nourish your body with healthy meals
Girlll! If your diet currently consists of 25-cent ramen noodles, black coffee, french fries, and energy drinks, pleaseeeee add some healthy food to your diet! I beg you! This is coming from someone who used to eat like sh*t in college, and completely destroyed my body, yikes.
Sure, unhealthy foods can still help you survive long nights of studying, but it’s not exactly nourishing for your body.
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If you want to feel and look your absolute best, focus on eating healthy meals! It doesn’t have to be complicated – just adding a few extra servings of fruits and vegetables to your day can make a big difference.
Swap those french fries + cheeseburgers for homemade sweet potato fries + chicken breast. And instead of drinking black coffee first thing in the morning, consider drinking matcha tea or smoothies instead.
✅ BTW! I highly recommend this 5 Ingredient College Cookbook by Pamela Elgen if you’re a newbie at cooking. You can check it out for FREE by signing up for Kindle Unlimited free trial, or an Audible 30-day free trial!
4. Connect with mother nature
One of my favorite self-care tips for college students is to connect with mother nature.
Sunlight is 100% free and is one of the world’s best medicines. Just by spending some time outside every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes, you’ll feel so much better.
So in between your classes, make sure to schedule a time to take a walk in the park, sit in the sunshine, or eat lunch on the grass. (Especially if you’re stressed by all the exams and deadlines.) Mother nature has a way of calming your mind and body.
5. Take breaks from social media
Though social media can be an amazing tool to monetize your side hustle and get yourself out there, it can also be quite damaging to your mental health.
As soon as you log onto your Tiktok or Instagram account, you’re bombarded with tons of content and information, and unintentionally, you start comparing yourself to strangers you’ve never met.
If you feel like social media has taken a toll on your mental well-being, then it might be time to take a break from it. You don’t have to delete all of your accounts. Simply delete the app from your phone or deactivate your accounts for a while.
By disconnecting from social media, you now have more time in the day to focus on yourself and do things that make your soul happy!
6. Move your body!
It’s a scientific fact! Exercise triggers a release of dopamine and serotonin, which are both neurotransmitters that make you feel happy. So even if you can’t find the time for a full workout, just getting up and moving around for a few minutes will help you feel better.
Put on some tunes (workout music playlists on Spotify) to get you in the mood to move your body!
Btw, I know how hard it is to get yourself to move when you’re feeling depressed, so even if you just get out of bed to go for a 5-minute walk, it’s still a major accomplishment! Give yourself a pat on the back!
7. Try to get more sleep if you can
Between classes, homework, extracurricular activities, and crazy frat parties, it can be hard to get enough rest in college. And this can take a toll on your mental and physical health, which is no bueno!
So if you’re feeling run down, it’s a sign that you need to get more sleep. It may seem like an impossible task, but there are a few things you can do to make it happen:
- Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This helps regulate your body’s natural sleep cycle.
- Create a cozy sleep environment that’s free from distractions like electronics or loud music (use ear plugs and a eye mask if you need to)
- Avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol before bedtime.
8. Learn to say “NO”
In college, you’re expected to juggle many different things while still maintaining good grades, and sometimes it can feel like you don’t have any time for yourself. So, to prioritize your “me time,” it’s important to learn how to say no.
It’s okay to pass on that party invite if you’re feeling exhausted, and it’s perfectly fine to stay in on a Friday night if you need some time to relax. Trust me! No one will judge you! Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by trying to do too much.
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The importance of self-care for college students
According to data by Statista, in 2021, more than 40% of college students in the United States reported symptoms of depression. Depression is a serious issue in college, but we don’t talk about it enough.
College is a unique experience where you’re learning so much yet still feel like you don’t know what you’re doing with your life.
You moved away from home and are finally living life on your own. You can no longer depend on your parents to help you with everything, and now you also have student loans to worry about!
IT’S A LOT!
This is why it’s so important for college students to have a self-care routine to take care of their mental health and stay sane during this hectic time in their lives.
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What is a good self-care routine?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question since my definition of a “good” self-care routine can look completely different than yours!
Apart from eating healthy food, exercising, and meditating, a self-care routine can vary from person to person. Personally, I LOVE people-watching, journaling, singing in the shower, and going on long walks. That’s self-care to me.
But for you, it might be playing the guitar, surfing, going on hikes, and baking cakes!
At the end of the day, a “good” self-care routine should bring you joy! You should feel alive, rejuvenated, and peaceful after your self-care rituals.
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What does it mean to practice self-care?
In a nutshell, practicing self-care means putting yourself first! Mentally, physically, and spiritually. It means doing things that give you joy, restore balance in your life, and make you feel better in general.
When you’re in college, you’re often neglecting your own needs because of the number of responsibilities you have. You stay up late so you can study and get good grades. You only eat one meal a day because you’re too busy and don’t have time to cook.
But when you practice self-care, you’re telling yourself, “no! I can’t be treating myself like sh*t anymore! I GOTTA PUT ME FIRST!”
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should just rage quit your job, drop all your classes, and take a trip to Europe in the middle of the semester.
But it does mean taking some time for yourself each day to rewind and recharge. Eat good food, exercise, meditate, and listen to music. Do what makes you feel good : )
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Love yourself!
I hope you’ve enjoyed these self-care tips for college students and found them useful!
Remember to always listen to your heart and your body. If you’re constantly feeling stressed, exhausted, and overwhelmed, then it means something needs to change in your life.
Treat yourself and your body with love and care! No event, assignment, or party is worth more than your mental and physical health. So please, take care of yourself, okay? : )
Much love!
xoxo
