Self-care in University
We hear about the idea of ‘self-care’ in the media a lot, but very rarely does anyone go into what exactly self-care means and how we can engage in effective self-care in a practical way. If you’re curious about what the idea of ‘self-care’ is all about and are interested in learning more, you’ve come to the right place!
What self-care is: The practice of working to improve your own health and wellbeing, including physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual health.
What self-care isn’t: Indulgence, treating yourself, or pursuing luxurious experiences.
Before we really get stuck into practical means of engaging in self-care as a university student, there’s one step that we need to have a think about first.
Step 1: Realise and start working to internalise that you are worthy of care, both from others and from yourself. It’s often easier to think about other people being worthy of care and attention, but much harder to conceive of our own worthiness. One method of helping you be kinder to yourself and work on caring for yourself is to think about the kind of care you think your best friend deserves. What kind of care would you give to them if they needed it, or what kind of care would you advise them to give themselves if they asked you about it? Whatever that answer is (and answer that questions before going on to the next part), that is also the level of care that you deserve.
This can be a really hard step, and you don’t have to get it right from the very beginning. If you practice this kind of approach over an extended period of time, it will become easier, and eventually may even become second nature.
With this in mind, here are some practical approaches to self-care in the university environment:
Take care of your body
This isn’t a requirement that you have to love your body. That can be a long and difficult journey. You just need to accept that your body requires care and maintenance. This includes feeding yourself food that is beneficial and nourishing, getting physically active multiple times a week, bathing regularly, and giving your body enough time to sleep and recover from the day.
Take care of your immediate environment
This includes keeping your study space and room tidy. It can include making your bed every day. If you have flatmates or shared space with fellow students, it can include making a plan as a group to keep shared space tidy as well. Having a cluttered space can have a negative impact on your mental health, so even if cleaning is a really difficult task for you, it’s a really valuable one.
Make time for studying
If you want to learn more about effective study, check out our resources on planning study sessions here. You can study at any time of day that works well for you, but make sure you are making space to get your schoolwork done.
Maintain your social relationships
This doesn’t mean you need to force yourself to be a partier or be out and about all the time. Making an effort to have social interaction with family and friends can be a huge benefit to your mental health. There are loads of societies on a university campus, and finding one on a topic that interests you and attending gatherings regularly can be very helpful in feeling connected to your university experience. You can even schedule regular days and times to catch up with different people, making it easier to manage.
Give your emotions space to exist
All emotions are valid. This is true even if the behaviours stemming from those emotions are unacceptable. Giving yourself space to safely feel and work through your emotions promotes overall happiness. If you try to stuff your emotions down inside yourself and suppress them, they only fester and wait for their opportunity to resurface (frequently at an inopportune moment). Giving your emotions space means giving them bounded space. It does not mean letting them overwhelm you. If you struggle to manage your emotions, it’s a good idea to reach out for professional support in engaging with them.
Allow yourself to have downtime
Nobody can be ‘on’ 24-7. Everyone needs rest, whether physical or mental. As a student, some days will be ‘off’ days, where you may struggle to get any of your schoolwork done. This is okay (provided it is a short-term experience). When you have a day like this, it’s okay to give yourself permission to not be productive, to spend time in places or on activities that help rejuvenate you mentally or emotionally. As the adage goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup, so try to arrange regular opportunities to refill your cup. This might include going on a hike, playing a video game alone or with friends, reading, cooking, or something else entirely.
Wrap Up
If you identify with several of these signs, it's likely that you're experiencing cultural homesickness. Recognizing these feelings is an essential first step in addressing them. Coping strategies may include bringing cultural elements from home to your new location, learning to cook (or how to adapt) comforting recipes from your home culture, and finding support from friends or professionals who understand your experience. Remember that cultural homesickness is a common and temporary feeling that often lessens as you become more accustomed to your new surroundings.
Having these plans for managing cultural homesickness helps you manage and get through your emotions, but they don’t stop them from happening. It’s important to recognise and acknowledge the emotions you feel rather than trying to stuff them down and ignore them.
