Today, we live in a world that idolizes a fast-paced life complete with jam-packed schedules and sleepless nights, trying to fit as much as we can into the day. As a college student, it is so easy to get wrapped up in this culture of people that needs to be constantly doing something. There will always be another paper to write, a test to study for, applications to complete, meeting to attend, the list is endless.
But where in these busy schedules is there time for you?
It seems that self-care is always pushed aside in order to create time for that one extra meeting, study session or organization meeting. While it is extremely important to be able to complete your work and stay on track in school, you cannot neglect your own physical and mental health in the process.
It is time to start being selfish.
The word "selfish" even seems like a foreign language to many college students, as they are reinforced by the institution to think about themselves only in regards to their academic standings instead of how they are as a human being. Functionally, we would all love to be able to learn, study, work for hours on end every day, however, this idea of the "constant grind" that is ever present on college campuses is not sustainable. At some point something has to give.
There needs to be more attention focused on self-care.
It is okay to not attend an extra credit session if you haven't eaten a meal yet that day and you chose to go feed your body the nutrients it need. It is okay to sometimes push off that assignment if it isn't due the next day to socialize with friends and go out to a movie or play a game. It is okay to tell your friends that you have to stay in instead of going out so you can have your alone time which is so rare in college. It is okay to cut off ties with toxic people that you thought were different. It is okay to put yourself and your feelings, state of being and mental health first.
A wise friend once told me, "You cannot pour from an empty cup." You cannot give when you yourself have nothing left to give, even to yourself.
This preconceived notion that college students have to suffer and run almost no sleep, survive on ramen, and constantly be stressing when they are taking time for themselves needs to end. It is time to start promoting a healthy life for college students, physically, mentally and socially. These are supposed to be the best four (or more, let's be honest) years of our lives and how are we supposed to fully enjoy them if we are in a perpetual state of stress, have a lack of sleep and nutrients and miss out on life to study that one extra hour for a test?
So start to breathe. Find time in your day for yourself. Eat some fruits and vegetables instead of the fifth packet of ramen noodles this week. Learn to meditate. Watch a movie. Cut those toxic relationships out of your life. Do whatever you need to do in order to keep yourself in the best condition that you can be. Then you can truly enjoy the crazy, hectic and beautiful life that college students get to live. Make sure you stop and take time to appreciate it all.
