For some Vandals, fall is the best time of year; the leaves are changing beautiful colors, the air is crisp, it is perfect sweater weather and it is always a good time to enjoy warm drinks. However, for others, fall can be very stressful. Midterms are approaching, papers are due and extracurriculars are busier than ever.
Because of this, it is super important to practice self-care regularly. I am personally a huge advocate for taking time during your week to practice self-care. Whether that means taking a nap, wearing a face mask or spending time with friends, it is important to take care of your body both physically and mentally.
Here are a few suggestions to keep up with your self-care during this busy time of the semester.
Before diving into these self-care tips, I should preface that I absolutely love fall because there are so many great things to do, and it is overall a perfect time of year. However, I am also a very busy person, so I like to make time often to treat myself (and yes, I am wearing a face mask while writing this).
Some of my current favorite fall self-care activities include reading a good book, watching fall themed movies, going to a pumpkin patch and baking cookies. If these activities aren’t up your alley, you can also try going to the gym, trying a new local restaurant, finding a new hobby or going on a walk.
Self-care isn’t necessarily about doing something big and extravagant, it’s all about finding what works best for you, and practicing it regularly. Personally, I like to change up my self-care routine every once in a while. Some days I’m feeling the face mask and Netflix, while others I want to be more active with friends.
While I am a student here at the university, I am also currently a Peer Health Educator with VHE, and one of our responsibilities is staffing the Well Space. The Well Space is an all-inclusive area, located in the Student Rec Center, for students to relax, study or simply hang out.
We also have orbeez, kinetic sand, coloring pages and an Escape Room game. The great thing about this game is that it is a free escape room without the pressure of being locked in a room! We have a lot of great self-care activities in the Well Space, but students can also come in to chat or even take a nap on our comfy couch, so come stop by!
Another great self-care activity that Vandal Health Education puts on are the Therapy Dogs on campus! I’m sure most of us here at the university miss cuddling and playing with our furry pets back home, so this is an excellent opportunity to take a break from classes and spend time with cute dogs! If this sounds interesting to you, come to the ASUI Lounge Oct. 15 from 1-3:30 p.m. There will be a few dogs to hang out with, so make sure to stop by and say hi!
I hope to see you all at an upcoming VHE event or in the Well Space. Remember, self-care can be super simple or extravagant, just make sure to take care of yourselves Vandals and Happy Fall!