By Natalie Soldatova
Sometimes there are days when we feel overwhelmed by everything that is happening in our life. Whether that is completing our assignments, studying, working or just trying to balance everything so we don’t go crazy. If we keep pushing ourselves too hard, we might start to feel burned out. It is easy to fall into a hectic and stressful lifestyle if we don’t try to prioritize our own well-being in the first place. Sometimes feeling overwhelmed and stressed is doing more harm than good.
Anyone can feel stressed from time to time, especially college students. I personally try to make time for myself and do things I enjoy in between my responsibilities and tasks that I have to do, but sometimes that is easier said than done. I’m sure that most of us had one of those days when we procrastinated until we got a lot of school work to catch up at the last minute. Sometimes even if we try to get everything done right away, it just seems like more and more is coming and it is a never ending cycle.
It is important to take some time just for ourselves from time to time. Some might feel guilty and think they should be working instead, but it is okay to take a break. Self-care is healthy for our physical and emotional well-being. I want to give you some tips and self-care essentials that might help you feel more relaxed and at peace.
When I think of self-care, I personally like to spend time alone and do things that make me feel recharged, relaxed or just put my mind at ease for a moment. When it comes to movement, I like to do yoga and pilates or if I’m back home take our dog for a walk. For feeling less stressed and having more clarity about my thoughts and worries, I like to journal or write a gratitude list. Some of the other things that are my form of self-care can be watching my favorite movie, doing my skincare routine, reading my favorite book or spending time with my family and friends.
It depends on the person and what makes them feel happy and relaxed. Self-care can also include cooking your favorite meal, getting a good night sleep, listening to music or just focusing on your hobbies and interests.
As I said earlier, time management plays an important role in our well-being as well. If I push myself to get most of my work done throughout the week or early before the weekend, I have more time to do things I enjoy. If I leave everything on the last
day, I just get more stressed out. Planning everything in advance will help you feel more organized and later make time for yourself.
It is okay to sometimes just feel like you want to give up and you just want to lay down and not do anything at all. We all have these days from time to time, but taking small steps to get everything done from your to-do list will make you feel even better afterwards and you will thank yourself later.
Think about what makes you feel at peace and give yourself some time to do what you enjoy at least once a day. It does not have to be anything time consuming, but small things such as taking time to breathe and stretch, call your friend or go for a walk can make a big difference.
Don’t be too hard on yourself even if sometimes you believe that is the only way. Be more kind to yourself and allow yourself to take breaks. Your well-being is important and once you start practicing self-care, you will notice the difference in how you feel and manage stress.