What Self-Care Really Means
(and Why College Students Desperately Need It)

The Sweatpants Scholar
Word Garden
Published in
2 min readAug 15, 2024
Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

Between balancing classes, work, and social life, it’s easy for college students to put their well-being on the back burner. But self-care isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a crucial part of maintaining a healthy, balanced life.

What is Self-Care, Really?

Self-care is more than just pampering yourself with spa days and comfort food (though those are nice too!). It’s about taking deliberate actions to nurture your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It’s about finding the joy in the small things. It’s about finding new ways. Self-care is recognizing when you’re running on empty and taking the necessary steps to refill your tank.

Why College Students Need Self-Care

  1. Preventing Burnout: College is demanding, and it’s easy to push yourself too hard. Regular self-care can help prevent the dreaded burnout by ensuring you’re recharging before you’re completely drained.
  2. Maintaining Mental Health: The pressures of college can take a toll on mental health. Incorporating self-care into your routine can reduce anxiety, depression, and stress, helping you maintain a healthier mindset.
  3. Boosting Productivity: It may seem counterintuitive, but taking breaks and caring for yourself can actually make you more productive. When you’re well-rested and mentally refreshed, you’re better equipped to tackle your tasks.
  4. Building Resilience: Self-care builds your capacity to handle life’s challenges. By consistently caring for yourself, you develop resilience, making it easier to bounce back from setbacks.

Simple Self-Care Practices That You Can Do On The Daily

  1. Sleep: Please please please (in Sabrina Carpenter’s voice) sleep. You are the most inefficient without sleep.
  2. Healthy Eating: Fuel your body with nutritious food. It’s easier to stay focused and energized when you’re eating well.
  3. Mindfulness and Meditation: Take a few minutes daily to clear your mind.
  4. Exercise: Even a short walk can make a big difference. Physical activity is a powerful mood booster.

Making self-care a priority equips you to handle the pressures of college life with confidence and strength.

If you want to go deeper into why self-care is so critical for college students and more tips on integrating it into your life, you can check out the full blog post:

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The Sweatpants Scholar
Word Garden

Obsessed with self-care & wellness. Sharing tips on health, self care & fitness for college students. Visit sweatpantsscholar.com for resources.