There is no magic potion to self-care. There isn’t one routine that will magically fix everything and make things better. However, there are things you can do to help yourself.
Food is always a great solution to a bad day; whether it’s some chocolate or a hot soup or ordering yourself a takeaway, food can make you feel that little bit better. It always feels rewarding to eat something you’ve just cooked but sometimes just bread with Nutella or a take-out pizza is good enough.
Sleeping is also key to self-care. With exams coming up, students have the tendency to sleep less and less but ensuring you get a decent sleep can make all the difference. While it may feel like lost time, you will find you are more productive when well rested and you’ll feel much better for it. Whether that’s an afternoon power nap or an early night – you’ll thank yourself for it later.
Going out might help you too. Going to a park, like Glasgow Greens, is a fantastic way to relax and breathing in some fresh air can do you the world of good. Museums can be a nice alternative when the weather is bad too and can help distract your mind for a bit.
Other forms of self-care that can perk you up are relaxing in a bath, retail therapy, pampering yourself, reading a book, phoning a friend, listening to music, practicing mindfulness, going to the gym or just spending time in your own company doing absolutely nothing. Different things work for different people. Self-care is extremely important though and you should make more time for YOU. You are the most important person in your life and you should start making yourself a priority!
By Sophie Dagens & Charlene McElhinney
