Slapping on a face mask or taking a bubble bath is considered some people’s method for self-care or avoiding feeling burnout. However, self-care has been a major conversation topic for all lately. In fact, self-care has been Googled more than ever within the last three years by online users.
In addition, the term “burnout” is commonly thrown into the conversation. It is a tell-tale sign for over-committing yourself to too many tasks. It can be a physical, mental and social reaction all in one.
Imagine being a Residence Life Area Hall Director, Student Involvement Coordinator and a North Central Graduate student like Paige Zawislak, ’20. Zawislak shared that burnout can make “you feel tense and exhausted.”
“You start to bring yourself down and think that you have failed,” said Zawisak. “You get a heavy feeling in your chest and feel like crying. It’s a rough place to be as it usually prevents me from falling asleep, getting work done and I generally just look down and upset.”
In an era where we are constantly on our feet, going to work and paying bills in between, it may be easier said than done to incorporate self-care into your daily ritual. Taking advantage of every opportunity is the norm. Marketing Major Ellie McDonough, ’21, is no stranger to the ritual.
“There are (students) trying to get involved, hang out with friends and there’s so much happening that you don’t even think about it because you’re thinking, ‘oh this is the expectation, right? I’m expected to do all this,’ so you do it,” said McDonough. “Then in the process, you may be stressing yourself out, which is okay, but that’s why it’s important to have self-care so that way you can keep your priorities in check.”
Most people wonder what exactly self-care means. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to incorporating one specific self-care ritual into your daily routine.
“It is something that’s incredibly serious and isn’t necessarily discussed or talked about as a problem that students can face,” said McDonough.
Moreover, there are tons of great self-care options that can suit everyone’s best interests. Zawislak shared that her favorite self-care practices are “being with my dog, drawing, playing Sims 4, dancing, sleeping, doing some sort of craft or reading a book.”
“Putting in my personal time to do graphic design projects takes my mind off of the stressful stuff I have to do for school,” said Sara Dolin, ’23, a graphic design student. “I’m also a morning person, so I make sure I have a coffee every morning because that’s what gets me going, and also taking a shower every morning just to de-stress.”
Exercising, listening to music and taking a walk are just some of the many forms of self-care to take advantage of. Additionally, there are over 274 more ideas to look into. Once you find your form you can begin implementing it into your schedule.
“If you want to succeed at something, you have to make sure you’re in the right mindset to put time and energy into it. And if you are not mentally in the space where you’re able to put in that time and effort, then you’re not going to succeed as well as you want,” said Dolin.
On top of so many different remedies, self-care is good for your mental and physical health. Continuously consuming a healthier diet and getting exercise are two critical methods for unintentional or intentional self-care. Doing so automatically reduces your risk of various cardiovascular or heart diseases down the road. Most professionals recommend exercising 30 minutes per day, but be sure to mix up your workout routine.
Running, walking or engaging in a sport are all great examples for the exercise that can nourish your body’s needs and get your heart rate going.
Let’s get heart rates up with exercise, not stress.
