Summer break is honestly a well-deserved and very-much-needed period of time for all students. While many utilize this opportunity to get ahead in academics or boost their extracurriculars, I also want to emphasize the importance of taking some time for ourselves to simply relax and do whatever it is to make us happy.
Unfortunately, the hectic pace of school alongside the million expectations placed upon students often means that basic things such as adequate sleep and a healthy mental space are pushed aside. Obviously, this is seriously messed up and the problem goes so much further into fundamental issues with the schooling system, but today I wanted to give a list of some ideas for self-care that go beyond putting on a face mask and calling it a day.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on Starry Scholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆
- Call or video chat a friend or family member and talk about your life. Catch up with one another, share some memories and laughs, and bam, instant serotonin.
- Go on a walk around the neighborhood, with or without earbuds. You can choose to listen to your favorite tunes, or simply take in the sounds of nature and human society. Either way, really focus on breathing in some fresh air and noticing the small things such as the blossoming flower or warmth of sunshine on your skin.
- Bake. The options are endless: cookies, cake, cupcakes, brownies, bread, tarts, and more. There are so, so, so many free recipes online and you can even choose specific ones to make them vegan, healthy, single-serve, etc. If you live alone or simply can’t eat it all, hit up a friend and drop some off to brighten their day!
- Do some household chores and clean up your living space. I know we often associate self-care with “fun” activities, but it can totally include anything that will in general make life more enjoyable, and trust me, tidying up your space will make a world of a difference for days to come.
- Get artistic. Some people like to play music, others like to listen. You can do something as easy as working on a coloring book, or whip out a pencil and scribble to your heart’s content; no one’s here to judge your artistry.
- Grab a book and escape from everything (temporarily). If you’re in the mood, turn on some background instrumental music, or take your reading outdoors to enjoy some fresh air as well. If you don’t have books you want to read, this is a great excuse to get out of the house to go buy or borrow some.
- Move your body. Notice the key wasn’t to workout necessarily; all you need to do is stop being sedentary for the time being. I personally love some early-morning yoga, light evening jog around town, or following along to a dance workout and blasting the music with some speakers.
- If you need it, take a nap. Sometimes sleep is really the best thing we can do for ourselves, and the extent to which we deprive ourselves of this basic need is absolutely ridiculous. Just make sure it doesn’t turn into a full-on sleep—you might mess up your sleep cycle.
- Plan ahead and clear your mind. Many times we tend to build up our stress by keeping everything in our minds. This can be in regards to upcoming deadlines or just thoughts in general. It may seem boring and a little tedious, but put it down on paper or even type it up somewhere; your mental clarity will be so much better, even if you don’t notice it right away.
- Whatever makes you happy. It’s that simple. Give yourself a break (and be realistic about the time, please), and do whatever you need to your heart’s content.
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more content on how to find your academic success, check out some of our articles here on Starry Scholar. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to leave them in our “Community Discussion” tab, or email us at @[email protected]! Remember, you got this ☆