Jenna's Daily Self-Care Activities

Self-care can mean a variety of things to different people. For some, it’s taking a bubble bath, spending time with friends or eating some take-out from their favourite restaurant. I’m a big believer in self-care, especially for busy students like myself. It’s easy to get caught up in school, work and living life. Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be little things that you do every day to take care of yourself while in the midst of classes and assignments. Here is what I do for my daily self-care routine to ensure I’m taking care of myself during the semester.

I am not a morning person at all, so I like to make them as nice as possible. Especially when I have an 8 a.m. lecture. Every morning I make myself a cup of tea and drink it out of my favourite mug. I have a variety of tasty teas, so each morning I spend a minute or two selecting the one that fits the vibe of the day. I cannot imagine starting my days any other way. 

I’ll admit this is something I don’t do every day, but I’m trying to work on it. I always feel so good after I get some exercise, and often find myself thinking, “Why don’t I do this more often?”. Getting some exercise is a great way to break up a day of sitting in classes and doing homework. It can be as simple as going for a quick walk or doing some yoga. Personally, I love going to one of the gyms at our university and participating in a group fitness class. They even have some great online fitness options!

Sometimes I can get bored and lonely working at my computer in my bedroom for hours at a time. Whenever I feel the boredom set in a little too deeply, I always break it up by talking to someone. I usually go bug my roommate to ask her a random question, or call my mom to chat about whatever I am working on at the moment. Even just a quick chat is nice to break up your day!

I often find myself working through my breakfast, lunch and snacks, so I always make sure I take a dinner break, no matter what. I sit down with some food on my couch and watch an episode of whatever television show I’m currently watching. Right now, it’s Full House (external link, opens in new window) ! It’s my way of relaxing after a long day and preparing for whatever the evening has in store for me. Dinner breaks are also great for eating while catching up with friends and family, or listening to a podcast or audiobook.

There is a very special tradition my roommate and I have, and that tradition is nightly television time. Every night we take a break from homework and whatever else is on our minds to watch TV together. Right now we’re watching the Netflix revival of Dynasty (external link, opens in new window) , and it gives us something to look forward to every night, making our days of work worth it.

Reading is one of my favourite pastimes, and I sometimes find myself struggling to fit it into my daily schedule. For my last self-care act of the day, I read part of whatever book I’m reading at the time. It’s a great way to end my day and get myself to sleep, unless the story is really good and I find myself up very late trying to finish it. Oops!

These are the small things I do every day for my daily self-care routine. Establishing small things you do each day can help you enjoy your days more, and make you feel like you’re doing something good for yourself and your mental health. Our university’s Mental Health and Wellness also has a number of resources for any students who need them.