We get it. When someone tells you to practice self-care, you picture a day of luxury complete with bath bombs, massages, Schine snack wraps and a shopping spree at Destiny USA. Unfortunately, 1) that’s not really how self-care looks (although if it is for you, that’s cool too) and 2) that kind of self-care can be expensive! Here are some tips for college students to practice self-care that are friendly to our budgets.
1. Meditate
Okay, now there are a few styles you can go with here. You could head to Hendricks Chapel for their free . Here’s the schedule:
- Monday: 12-1 p.m., 2:30-3:30 p.m., 5-6 p.m.
- Tuesday: 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- Thursday: 9:30-10:30 a.m.
- Friday: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Not too sure about the in-person thing? Check out a free meditation app, such as Calm, Inscape and Headspace. Premium memberships for the Pacific app are free for all SU students, too!
2. Call family or friends
Need a break? Call someone that grounds you and gives you a smile. Whether stress levels are rising or the inevitable homesickness is kicking in, set aside time for the people in your life that give you strength or a sense of comfort. I always like to use Google Hangout (free) to get a group of friends in different locations all together.
3. Go outside
Heading outside can clear your mind. The campus, the city and the region have beautiful spots waiting for you to explore. Maybe you’ve been in Bird for a little too long…head around the Monday Mile loop on campus to clear your mind. Looking to engage a bit more with the greater outdoors? Check out .
4. Exercise
Practice yoga. Go to a . Head to a . Spend your Friday night at . Get those endorphins going and prioritize your health. The intersection of physical and mental health is wildly apparent, so start investing in it all and be mindful about tracking their correlation.
5. Schedule an appointment at the MindSpa
Alright, we have a space on campus that is literally made for this. And it’s free. and you’ll have access to meditation and yoga resources, light therapy and more.
6. Play your favorite music and sing/dance your heart out
When you need to practice self-care, music is a way to take on whatever mood you need to allow yourself to be in. I always encourage the chance to bust some moves and belt at the top of your lungs. Even if you don’t end up as a recording artist, the smiles it’ll bring you Is priceless.
7. Make a gratitude list
Centering yourself to the aspects of your life is exactly what you need. Get out your notebook, take a breath and list a few things you are thankful for at the moment.
7. Sleep
Sleep is free. Sleep is good. Sleep a healthy amount! The Office of Health Promotion has some you can order for your organization, class or group.
9. Attend campus events
Stay on the lookout for cool events on campus that are providing the venue for you to practice self-care. ran from Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, and Stress Less Week is quickly approaching!
Here’s to self-care and incorporating it into your life in ways you hadn’t thought of before.