Self-care routine in college

We’re coming to the end of the semester when all of the big assignments, projects, and papers are due, plus final exams right around the corner. This is the point of the semester when I am extremely burnt out from school and tend to put my well-being on the back burner. I have a self-care routine I do each day that is quick but because school takes up a lot of time, especially around this time of the semester, I try at least once a week to have a whole self-care day to prioritize myself and my needs. Self-care is a necessity for college students because it helps relieve stress that builds up because of school. It is very easy to get into a pattern of not taking care of yourself but having at least one day a week that you dedicate to yourself can promote self-care and can help your mental health.

A self-care day for me starts by getting a good night's sleep. Most days of the week I am up late doing homework or studying so I usually do not get a full night’s rest. To make sure I start my self-care day out correctly, I try and get to bed as early as possible the night before. Sleep is super important and really determines my mood the next day so if I get a good night’s sleep my mood instantly improves and puts me on the right track for a good day. Most college students have a messed-up sleep schedule so getting at least one day a week where you get a full 8-hour sleep is great for self-care.

Going on a drive in the morning to get coffee is another thing I do for myself when having a self-care day. I usually make my coffee at home throughout the week so treating myself to a Starbucks or Dunkin’ coffee always boosts my mood. Driving around and listening to music always takes my mind off school so going on a drive with my coffee is the perfect start to the day.

Getting a bit of exercise in is also a good idea for a self-care day. Although it usually sucks in the moment, exercising and taking care of your body really does help your mental health and improve your overall mood for the day. Something as simple as taking a walk on the boardwalk or walking around the neighborhood always makes me feel better and is something I try to do every self-care day that I have.

Hair and face masks are something else I like to do on self-care days. I don’t usually have the time to do this during the week so being able to pamper myself is always fun and makes me feel better. I really try and spend the rest of the day doing what I want. Whether that be laying in bed all day watching a show, hanging out with my friends, or going shopping; as long as it takes my mind away from school and is benefitting my mental health, I do it.

The whole point of a self-care day is to dedicate time to yourself and do the things that you genuinely want to do, without having the stress of school. I know it is easier said than done to make time for yourself but if you don’t have self-care days every once in a while, it really does take a toll on your mental health. College is extremely stressful, so we need to remember that is okay to prioritize ourselves sometimes.