By: Lauren Trongone
As college students, we are susceptible to a substantial amount of negative thoughts, school-related stress, and pressure to fit in. Come the end of each week, the exhaustion sets in, our social batteries are drained, and we are all in need of a reset. When we neglect to take care of our mind and body properly, we are left with this feeling of dissociation and it infiltrates our perception of reality. All of which contribute to my main point, which is that self care plays a monumental role in the life of college students. That said, I have some tips I practice here at UMass that I would like to share to help others combat these intrusive thoughts that leave us feeling disconnected.
Firstly, as a form of physical self-care, I often like to take advantage of the wide variety of workout classes that the UMass recreation center offers. Depending on the class, they all range from thirty minutes to an hour and they are running continuously throughout the entire day so it is easy to accommodate with the busy schedules most students are on. Additionally, the recreation center is conveniently located right on campus so it is never a lengthy commute and this comes at no additional charge. I have tried many of them and I must say that my two favorites have to be spin and barre!
Secondly, I like to treat myself from time to time. I will often go to the Starbucks on the first level of Hampshire dining hall and get a coffee as a reward after a class or a long day to recognize my hard work. This can be done with literally anything, not just coffee! You can go to Blue Wall in the campus center and grab a cupcake or gelato. It is simply the principle of splurging on a little something you enjoy to fuel your soul and boost your spirits.
Another activity I like to do when I start feeling mentally tired, usually towards the end of a lengthy day is to take a hot shower. This gives my mind a break and helps me reset while also completing a necessary daily task. I come out afterward feeling clean and reenergized. Or another alternative when feeling exhausted is a nap. That little bit of extra sleep can be extremely productive and will go a long way when it comes to reviving your body for a second wind.
In terms of social self-care, I recommend setting aside time to be with your friends. What my friends and I like to do is meet up for a movie night once a week with a big screen projector and snacks in the common room. We obviously see each other more than this one time a week, however, this allows for us to have a concrete window of quality time allocated to hang out all together as a group and relax.
Moreover, therapy is a fantastic, yet extremely overlooked form of self-care. In the same way people go to the doctors to check up on their physical health, people should go to therapy to check up on their mental health. Contrary to popular belief, therapy has no prerequisites - you do not need to have suffered from mental illness or have some kind of trauma in order to attend. I prefer to think of it as a preventative measure as a way of servicing your brain and talking about what is going on in your life. Emotions, no matter how big or small, are better when you talk them aloud and acknowledge them. UMass agrees on this and has made it a point to devote an entire department to it. The Center for Counseling and Psychological Health offers a range of therapy options that cater to whatever your needs are in hopes of promoting mindfulness among the student body. All these services are readily available so we might as well make use of them.
Ultimately, our perception is our reality. Self-care will make or break your outlook on life and that is why it becomes so essential for moldable young adults to take care of themselves in
meaningful ways. Mindset is everything and it is only a matter of finding what works best for you. These are some suggestions that I like to exercise during my time here as a UMass student and I hope they are helpful in giving you some ideas of your own or, if nothing else, they at least inspire you to work on your own self-care routine. Take care, UMass!