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<\/a><\/p>\nMost college students would agree, as fun as college is, it is also very stressful. Students take on various roles, and that sometimes goes unnoticed. Most of us have jobs, on or off campus, so we must be an employee as well as a student. Some of us participate in extracurricular activities, like sports teams or clubs, and serve as club leaders. Students also must fulfill the roles of a supportive friend, family member or significant other by dedicating their time to connect with loved ones, and the list goes on!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To reiterate, students are constantly trying to balance a full plate. However, there is one role that is often overlooked, and that is being your own caretaker.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s common for college students to cut back on sleep, skip meals or sacrifice things they enjoy in order to make the time to fulfill all the roles listed above. It is crucial for college students to ensure that they are advocating and properly tending to themselves as a person first and foremost, before they can effectively \u201cfill a role\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As a person, and not just a college student, you have an obligation to yourself to do what is best for you, so here are some tips to help you practice self-care:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. Never feel bad, guilty or ashamed for putting yourself first\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n As difficult as it may be, putting yourself above all else should always be a priority. <\/span>If you are not properly cared for, then you\u2019re unable to give your best to those around you. You are not selfish <\/span>for<\/span> saying no, <\/span>canceling<\/span> plans <\/span>or dedicating time for yourself.\u00a0In fact, it\u2019s extremely important that we take that time to reflect, relax and recharge.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>With a busy schedule,\u00a0it is important to ensure you have this time for yourself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2. Prioritize Wellness<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0If you’re sick, stay home<\/span>. It’s as simple as that! Allowing yourself time to rest & hydrate can actually help you get healthier faster. Additionally, if wearing a mask in public makes you more comfortable, do it. Prioritizing your wellness will aid in your ability to tackle any obstacles and enjoy life to the fullest.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3. Improve self-talk<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The way we talk to ourselves affects us more than we may realize. By repeating positive affirmations to ourselves or changing the way we give ourselves <\/span>criticism<\/span>, <\/span>we can improve our mental health and life satisfaction.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 4. Get <\/span>r<\/span>egular <\/span>m<\/span>ovement<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n I am sure as college <\/span>students;<\/span> we all frequently hear people tell<\/span> us how beneficial exercise is. <\/span>Despite<\/span> that tip constantly being thrown around, do you know why it’s beneficial? Regular exercise has bee<\/span>n supported by studies to lower stress levels and improve our overall health! Even if you only have time for a <\/span>20-minute<\/span> walk or <\/span>are engaging in rigorous <\/span>weightlifting<\/span>, stress relief is something we could all use a little more of.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 5. Nourish friendships and close relationships<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Friendships, relationships and family lay the foundation for our support systems. It is important that they are nourished<\/span>, and that time is devoted to spending quality time with them. A few <\/span>benefits<\/span> of prioritizing these relationships in your life <\/span>include<\/span> a boost in happiness<\/span> and reduced stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 6. Eat mindfully<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Despite most of us falling under the \u201cbroke college student\u201d category, a mindful and nutritious diet is extremely import<\/span>ant. <\/span>A healthy diet is a great way to improve your overall health. <\/span>Some ways I recommend achieving this in a cost-effective manner <\/span>are<\/span> to plan meals ahead of time, use coupons or reach out to professionals on campus for nutrition ad<\/span>vice!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 7. Improve your sleep habits<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n As students, a proper sleep regimen is often something we sacrifice or overlook. <\/span>However, especially because we are students, <\/span>our sleep should have structure. A few benefits of good sleep hygiene include lower stress levels, less brain fog, improved immune system and <\/span>an increased mood.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Let your mind unwind before bed by reading or watching a series. College students read because they have to for class all the time. So, spending an hour or so at night can be a treat for yourself \u2013 not for a class. If you are a binge watcher like me, limit yourself to an episode or two a night so you can prolong your enjoyment and give yourself something to look forward to destress before bed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 8. Know when you need to ask for help and know that it is okay<\/strong><\/p>\n It is perfectly acceptable to ask for help. Whether it be from a professor to further explain something from class, asking your employer to adjust your hours, or just asking a\u00a0friend to lend a listening ear, do what you need to do for you. You can schedule an appointment with WSU\u2019s Counseling and Wellness Services<\/a>\u00a0for emotional support or talk to Tutoring Services<\/a> for class help.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 9. Invest in a hobby<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n By investing in a hobby, you are simultaneously boosting your mood, engaging in social connections, improving your stress levels an<\/span>d are participating in new opportunities\/overcoming new challenges. I encourage y<\/span>ou to invest in something you’re passionate about! Some ideas you could try are yoga, baking or<\/span> a new sport.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 10. Try journaling<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n As silly as it may sound to some, journaling is a fantastic way to reduce stress, track progress and growth<\/span>, encourages you to reach your goals and boosts emotional intelligence. <\/span>Take out 10 minutes from your day and give it a try!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 11. Plan your time effectively<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Coming from someone who is a chronic procrastinator and awful planner, effective time management is so important. By scheduling out your time properly, it is much easier to <\/span>dedicate time to <\/span>fit in some of <\/span>self-care tips I listed above. Effective planning <\/span>also can<\/span> help reduce stress levels and help you be <\/span>more prepared for whatever your week may bring!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 12. Rid your space of clutter<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Clutter has a way of causing <\/span>us to become overwhelmed. By dedicating time to <\/span>organizing<\/span> or <\/span>picking<\/span> up our space, we are allowing ourselves to relax<\/span>, peacefully and with a clear head.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some of these self-care tips have <\/span>personally helped me reduce my stress levels and <\/span>overall,<\/span> just pay more attention to my <\/span>well-being<\/span>. Pick at least one and give it a <\/span>try this week!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u2013 Makayla Lende \u201923<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Most college students would agree, as fun as college is, it is also very stressful. Students take on various roles, and that sometimes goes unnoticed. Most of us have jobs, on or off campus, so we must be an employee as well as a student. Some of us participate in extracurricular activities, like sports teams […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":7521,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" Most college students would agree, as fun as it can be, college can also be a very stressful time in a person\u2019s life. There are many roles college students take on that many do not realize.\u00a0A majority of college students have jobs, on or off campus, so they have to be an employee as well as a student. Some students participate in\u00a0extracurricular activities, like sports teams or clubs, and have to dedicate time to those and even serve as club leaders. Students also have to fulfill the roles of a supportive friend, son\/daughter or sibling who makes time to stay in contact with loved ones and significant others\u00a0\u2013 the list goes on!<\/p> Long story short, college students have many roles to fulfill and have very full plates at times. However, there is one role that is often overlooked, and that is being your own caretaker.<\/p> It\u2019s pretty common for college students to cut back on sleep, skip meals or sacrifice things they enjoy to make time to fulfill all the roles listed above. But it\u2019s very important for college students to ensure they are taking care of and advocating for themselves as a person first, before any of their other roles. Because to be a student, employee, team member, friend etc., you need to be a healthy person first.<\/p> As a person, and not just a college student, you have an obligation to yourself to do what is best for you and take care of yourself, so here are some tips to help you practice self-care:<\/p> 1. Never feel bad, guilty or ashamed for putting yourself first\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> Alone time is a must to recharge, refuel and relax.<\/p> 2. Learn to say no<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> You cannot do everything or be everywhere at once. Learn what you can handle on your plate and set limitations for yourself.<\/p> 3. Plan time in advance for yourself and your self-care practices, whatever they may be<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> With a busy schedule,\u00a0it is important to ensure you have this time for yourself.<\/p> 4. Try yoga or meditation<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> College students rarely get to sit and just breathe if they\u2019re juggling multiple roles. So, take\u00a0some time to be in-tune with your body and mind and relax. The IWC even offers various yoga classes <\/a>students can attend!<\/p> 5. Read for pleasure<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> College students read because they have to for class all the time. So, find\u00a0something you enjoy, whether it is poetry, novels, magazines, or even online articles and spend an hour or so a week (or night if you can) and read for yourself \u2013 not for a\u00a0class.<\/p> 6. Eat healthy<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> A college student\u2019s budget is tight, but just remember that food is meant to fuel your body with nutrients it needs to function properly. So take time to think about\u00a0what you are putting into your body and ensure you are hitting all the food groups. There\u00a0is\u00a0even a registered dietitian<\/a>\u00a0available at the IWC who you can make an\u00a0appointment with if you need pointers in eating a balanced diet.<\/p> 7. Find a series you can watch every night before you go to sleep to help you unwind<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> Most college students like to binge watch series, but limit yourself to an episode\u00a0or two\u00a0a night so you can prolong your enjoyment and give yourself something to look forward to doing when you get home (other than going to sleep).<\/p> 8. Know when you need to ask for help and know that it is okay<\/strong><\/p> \u00a0<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> It is perfectly acceptable to ask for help. Whether it be from a professor to further explain something from class, asking your employer to adjust your hours, or just asking a\u00a0friend to lend a listening ear, do what you need to do for you. You can schedule an appointment with WSU\u2019s Counseling and Wellness Services<\/a>\u00a0for emotional support or talk to Tutoring Services<\/a> for class help.<\/p><\/p>\n<\/p>