As a fourth-year student who will graduate in May, I’ve had my fair share of the end-of-semester blues. I don’t know who out there has experienced them before, but I’m assuming it’s more than a few of the students on the University’s campus. For me, the blues are typically characterized by an inability to get out of bed, lots of lists containing what needs to be done, not very many proper meals consumed and a general aura of anxious energy surrounding me.
What isn’t seen much during the end of the semester blues is me taking care of myself. I hope those reading this are better about remembering to take care of themselves than I am, but I have a feeling many may be in the same boat as I am. For all of us, this next sentence is crucial:
Taking care of yourself is of the utmost importance.
Forbes magazine writer Noma Nazish writes, “No matter how indulgent or fancy the term may sound, self-care is crucial for our physical, emotional and mental well-being. You shouldn’t neglect self-care.”
I know that for myself, when I neglect self-care, my world begins to fall apart at the seams. I forget important homework assignments, I feel faint and tired, I am grumpy with my friends — but if I take even an hour to spend on myself, these negative effects begin to lessen.
Self-care can look different for each person — in fact, it should. No one is the same, and what provides me with energy will look completely different from what provides anyone else energy. The things that should remain consistent in self-care, though, are that self-care should be enjoyable to you, should provide you with energy and should be all about you.
For me, self-care is frequently sitting in my bed with my dog, drinking a soda and eating popcorn while watching Netflix or reading a book. Sometimes, it’s coloring a picture. Occasionally, I go for a walk or take a bath.
One important piece of self-care: it is not shameful. All too often, self-care is seen as whiny or needy or weak. It is none of those descriptions.
Self-care is what one does when they know themselves, know their limits and know what will help them succeed in the long run.
So, in the upcoming hectic days of the end of the semester, I hope self-care is just a normal part of the day-to-day routine here at BG as late nights at the library.
