Staff Writer- Emily Sustaita
Welcome back, Gusties! As we emerge from fall break, we come back with restored energy after the hard toil of studying and work, and have (for the most part) assuaged the habits we adopted in order to cope with the stressful weeks up to fall break: pulling all-nighters, forgetting meals, or secluding ourselves from the world around us. With the proper rest, we regain a new sense of energy.
However, as we transition back into the groove of classes, it is also very easy for that same energy to fall flat, and easy for us to slip back into the old, unhealthy habits we developed to deal with the hectic schedule of our day. So much so, we forget to prioritize a crucial, hidden gem in the care of our health: self-care.
And why might this be? Well, like Mary Athorp, a fellow opinion writer at the Weekly, wrote before me, Gusties have a tendency to be over-involved; so much so, we forget to take care of ourselves in the midst of it. Of course, that is not to say that being involved in a variety of activities is a bad thing. The ability to engage in different activities is a precious opportunity we have in order to expand our minds and improve our time management skills. However, when that same over-involvement leads to a detriment in our health, it is time to reassess our strategies.
As I firmly believe, health is a precious thing that should come first. When we have poor health, we are unable to be our best selves. Now, you might be wondering, how do you even define self-care? Well, self-care is simply put as “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s health.” There are many ways to practice self-care, and there is no wrong or right way to go about it. With that in mind, here are some ways to practice self-care!
INTROSPECTION
A great way to start self-care is through introspection: the process of examining our thoughts and emotions. It’s a perfect way to slow down in resistance to the fast speed of this world. You might practice this by journaling: write down something about your day that stood out to you. Write down why you decided to attend Gustavus. Write down what dream you hope to fulfill. Write down a list of things you are grateful for. This may sound corny and useless, but I would argue that this can be a very useful way of warming up our hearts, which may have hardened in the face of adversity. You can also practice introspection through meditation, breathing exercises, or going out on a brisk walk!
SOCIAL ACTIVITY
If you prefer to relax by spending time with others, incorporating social activities into your routine can be a great way of practicing self-care. Pay attention to the fliers that are posted around campus: chances are, you can find a variety of fun and chill activities to attend, where you can socialize with new people and old friends. You can also go beyond campus activities and set up hangouts with your friends: you can go on a picnic. You can head down to that new restaurant. You can have a game night. You can play a fun sport. Spending time with others is a great way to slow down and enjoy life!
HOBBIES
For those days when you decide to practice self-care alone, making progress in a current hobby of yours or adopting a new one is a good way of practicing self-care. You can do this by picking up a new book. You can play a favorite game of yours. You can watch some YouTube, a movie, or a show (assuming that you don’t fall into a deep rabbit hole). You can try crocheting. You can try cooking something new (remember quarantine and the dalgona coffee?) You can have a dance party. You can tend to your plants. Whatever you decide to do, do something that you find personally enjoyable!
BASIC HEALTH
Last but not least, one of the best ways to practice self-care is by returning to the foundations. You know what they are: in art, you can’t break around the principles of art until you are familiar with its foundations. In this case, the self-care foundations can refer to diet, sleep, and exercise. Challenge yourself by cutting down on processed foods and replacing them with healthier alternatives. Try something new at the Caf (even if it’s a little scary at first.) Are you getting three meals a day? Reassess your sleep schedule: Are you getting enough sleep? If not, find areas where you can readjust how long you do a certain activity. Try a new sport. Make a visit to the Lund Center. Go out on some walks. The key is that you are providing yourself with the basic elements needed to thrive.
With all these ideas in mind, I hope you took away at least one activity that you might consider to include in your self-care routine. After all, the main thing I’d like to drive at is that even by setting one small self-care goal for yourself, you are taking a small step towards good health. Of course, we might not always be perfect at maintaining it–even I, as the writer, continue to work on my ability to take care of myself. But that’s the beauty of it–we are all human beings who are working to improve and take care of our sacred health, one step at a time.