In a culture and a city both so defined by fast-pace living and being the best, it is increasingly important to nurture a respect and care for mental wellbeing in our personal lives.
Self-care has often been categorised as taking hot baths and buying candles. These actions can be beneficial, but the priority should be the intention with which this is done; namely the act of taking time for yourself, doing anything that makes you feel more stable and relaxed.
In this vein, I have compiled a short list of perhaps more broad ways one can practice wellbeing-focused self-care:
Creative and focused journaling
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
A great way to get into journaling, particularly as a way to increase focus levels before a day of study, is ‘The Morning Pages’. This is a widely used method of journaling that involves a stream of consciousness style of writing, preferably practiced most days.
This can be as long or as short as you feel appropriate, but often about two sides of A5 is about right. The aim is simply to get onto the paper anything and everything you are feeling or thinking, with the intention that you will step away feeling less cluttered, and ready for the day. Of course, journaling can be whatever feels right for you, and what flexes the creative part of your brain. Ultimately it is about taking this time out to do something different.
Craft
I personally find that occupying my hands with a task can be extremely therapeutic, especially after sitting at a desk all day, or even after a long day of errands. It may sound crazy, but the repetitive nature of a craft like crocheting, knitting, colouring or painting, can be noticeably useful in times of stress. This is the perfect kind of activity to pick up during the holidays, that you can easily return to, as and when needed or desired. The important thing would be that you do pick it up.
Cooking
Photo by Kevin McCutcheon on Unsplash
Taking time to cook and eat a good meal – either a new recipe or a favourite comfort dinner – is a really common act of self-care. Never underestimate the power of nutrition. I particularly find something requiring focus but not too much work, such as a risotto, works best for me. This is one of my favourite easy recipes.
The process of eating mindfully can also work for some people in terms of a more positive mental space and relationship with good food. This may look like putting your phone down during dinner, or turning off the TV, or not thinking about all the work you have to do the next day (more information about mindful eating on the Headspace website). Another benefit of taking time to make food is classic bulk cooking! A freezer is your best friend and lets you enjoy a nourishing home-cooked meal on a busy day in future.
See friends, or don’t!
It can be beneficial to your general wellbeing and energy levels to ascertain whether you are an introvert or an extrovert. This way, you can utilise your spare time to best energise yourself. If you feel more buzzed after socialising, spending time on this can be a significantly important thing to balance with work and study.]
However, if you are more of an introvert, it might be good to book out time in your calendar to spend with yourself – in the way you would arrange to see friends. This could look like more basic self-care, such as having a bath or doing some shopping, or an evening in watching your favourite movie. It sounds simple, and both of these parts of life are important, but it can be really beneficial in our busy lives to make sure you are prioritising the aspect of socialising (or not) that leaves you feeling most refreshed and ready to face life!