Self Care and STEM Students: Taking Care of Yourself
For some, the phrases “self care” and “STEM” don’t mesh well together.
The reasons for poor mental health among those in STEM vary. A study by the University of Waterloo indicates that women in engineering programs have lower overall mental health, linking this finding to high levels of competition between women and a lack of female companionship in their classes. In general, the mental health of students from the study was connected to the numbers of hours of homework that each engineering student receives.
Heavy workloads, competitive environments, and lack of companionship are only a few reasons why self care needs to be more important, especially amongst the STEM fields. Those pursuing careers in STEM might push aside time designated for self care to finish a coding assignment, work on lab projects, or hunt for internship opportunities. Especially within the midst of a global pandemic, self care needs to be a priority for everyone. However, fitting time in a packed schedule can be hard to do, particularly for STEM students. Here are tips and pieces of advice you can use to for finding time within your day to self care:
Step away from the computer periodically
Or away from any heavy school projects you might be working on, for that matter. Even more so during virtual school and Zoom meetings, students find themselves glued to their computers to do assignments and work. It’s a good idea to take a few breaks throughout your day and get some fresh air if you can.
Reach out to your friends
It’s also likely that you’ve been putting off interactions with your friends to focus on school. While your academics are important, it doesn’t hurt to catch up with your friends, especially if you haven’t seen anyone for a while. Talk on the phone with your friends that you haven’t spoken to in a while, or if you can do so safely, ask to grab lunch or coffee with your friends in between classes.
Find a non-STEM related hobby
The idea of having a hobby or partaking in a non-STEM activity may seem strange to you, but in your downtime, you don’t always have to do something related to what you study. Sure, finding time for a hobby to begin with may be a difficult task, but try thinking about your free time in a different way. Try reading a book if you have to commute, or journaling or exercising in the mornings before class.
No matter how busy your schedule is, your mental health needs to be a priority. It’s completely normal to be stressed out when you’re a student, but that doesn’t make it okay to not take care of yourself. Even if you have to pack it into your busy schedule, self care is necessary and will help you in the long run of your journey in STEM.
