Priya Saha | Contributor
Featured image: Self-care is essential for one’s mental, emotional, and physical health. | Courtesy of Myriams Fotos
With all the responsibilities post-secondary students have these days, it can be hard to find time to just relax and make time for ourselves.
“‘Self-care’ has become a buzzword. Everyone seems to be talking about it. We are sold the idea that self-care requires purchasing an extensive list of beauty, skincare, and wellness products. While pampering yourself can be an important aspect, it is not the only option. There really is no correct way to practice self-care, and it is personal and differs for everyone,” says a student who wishes to remain anonymous.
However, self-care should be something that every individual incorporates into their daily routine. Self-care—also known as self-compassion—focuses on devoting attention to one’s mental, emotional, and physical health. It should not be considered a selfish act, as an individual must recharge themselves on a personal level to ensure their well-being.
Self-care is the constant repetition of many small habits. It’s about one’s thoughts, actions, and ability to cope with daily stressors. The best way to do this is to implement small, daily habits, including self-affirmation or allotting time alone. This is a process, because often it’s not always simple to appreciate and make time for oneself, but it’s necessary.
“To me the best form of self-care is doing what makes me happy. Whether it is trying a new workout at the gym, going out to eat, or just singing at the top of my lungs, it’s so important to me to do things I enjoy,” says Corey Grunberg, a second-year Kinesiology student.
Practicing positive self-care and self-talk regularly contributes to positive well-being overall, especially regarding mental health, which can be defined as: a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and make contributions to their own communities.
It is important to practice compassion and awareness when addressing emotions; taking care of the mind is just as crucial as taking care of the body. One can begin with basic care activities, such as stretching or breathing exercises, actively planning self-care to incorporate it into your daily routine, and to maintain a conscious mind, as self-care should re-energize you.
Jessie Nowlan, a third-year Communication Studies student, says: “I always try to eat healthy as a form of self care. When I focus on the nutrition I’m putting in my body it creates a greater appreciation for everything my body accomplishes.”
Self-talk is an important component of self-care.
Self-talk is an individual’s internal dialogue; having positive rather than negative thoughts can influence moods and actions in various ways. Optimistic self-talk is often difficult to achieve, because of the tendency to only remember negative comments, responses, and circumstances, which in turn can build upon feelings of anger, dissatisfaction, unhappiness, and hopelessness.
“It is difficult to reach our fullest potential if we are constantly feeling overworked and exhausted. That is why it is important to take care of our minds and bodies through implementing activities that bring us joy. Practicing self-care helps us to achieve our goals and experience fulfillment in life.
“We also need to take care of ourselves first, before taking care of others,” says Shalyn Isaacs, president and founder of Women’s Mental Health Talks and fourth-year Psychology student.
In order to induce positive self-talk, this negativity must be eliminated. Disarming this negativity allows for recognition of positive thoughts and qualities, taking power away from negative ones.
As the number of people who suffer from mental illness climbs, we must remember to devote attention towards our mental, emotional, and physical health.
