College students’ takes on self-care
By Aubrey Wurst
April 15, 2025
College life can be stressful and time-consuming, so it’s important to prioritize self-care and make time for yourself and your needs.
Grace Carrington, a sophomore criminal justice major, says that she practices self-care by going through her set routine every night without fail.
“I write an entry in my journal for 10 minutes and then write down three positive things from my day,” Carrington said.
She then takes 30 minutes to do something that she knows will relax her, such as watching TV, calling someone, or reading.
She also mentioned that she makes sure to do a full reset day one day out of the week. For her this may consist of cleaning, getting her nails done or going to pilates. A reset day is something that a lot of college students overlook but is a huge step in prioritizing self-care.
According to a study by Concordia University in Nebraska, self-care is a way for college students to prevent stress and burnout. The study says that college students tend to overlook self-care, which can lead to bad habits and fatigue.
Self-care is known to boost energy levels and overall happiness, and there are so many simple ways to practice it.
Other common ways to prioritize self-care in college are by getting ahead on work and working on time management skills.
By getting ahead on work you allow yourself to not be as stressed when deadlines approach, and by working on time management you can do more activities that you may otherwise not have time for.
Time management also helps when you are leaving for classes. It feels much better when you get to class five minutes early and have time to get situated than if you show up right on time and can’t find a seat while making noise when the professor starts class.
Sydney Lewis, a junior communications major, takes more of a non-traditional route to self-care. She considers herself a creative person who likes to keep herself busy, so her form of self-care is to build legos, read books and enjoy time with her cat, Ivy.
Lewis is an example that self-care comes in many forms. It doesn't always mean doing something that looks aesthetic, like taking a luxurious bath or taking a peaceful nap.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, self-care should stimulate your brain while also working to relax it. You can do this by partaking in activities that bring you joy, such as enjoying a pet or making something.
Self-care is such an important part of being a college student and of life as a whole. To best benefit yourself, you should always try to give yourself some grace and self-care during stressful times.
Grace Carrington, a sophomore criminal justice major, says that she practices self-care by going through her set routine every night without fail.
“I write an entry in my journal for 10 minutes and then write down three positive things from my day,” Carrington said.
She then takes 30 minutes to do something that she knows will relax her, such as watching TV, calling someone, or reading.
She also mentioned that she makes sure to do a full reset day one day out of the week. For her this may consist of cleaning, getting her nails done or going to pilates. A reset day is something that a lot of college students overlook but is a huge step in prioritizing self-care.
According to a study by Concordia University in Nebraska, self-care is a way for college students to prevent stress and burnout. The study says that college students tend to overlook self-care, which can lead to bad habits and fatigue.
Self-care is known to boost energy levels and overall happiness, and there are so many simple ways to practice it.
Other common ways to prioritize self-care in college are by getting ahead on work and working on time management skills.
By getting ahead on work you allow yourself to not be as stressed when deadlines approach, and by working on time management you can do more activities that you may otherwise not have time for.
Time management also helps when you are leaving for classes. It feels much better when you get to class five minutes early and have time to get situated than if you show up right on time and can’t find a seat while making noise when the professor starts class.
Sydney Lewis, a junior communications major, takes more of a non-traditional route to self-care. She considers herself a creative person who likes to keep herself busy, so her form of self-care is to build legos, read books and enjoy time with her cat, Ivy.
Lewis is an example that self-care comes in many forms. It doesn't always mean doing something that looks aesthetic, like taking a luxurious bath or taking a peaceful nap.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, self-care should stimulate your brain while also working to relax it. You can do this by partaking in activities that bring you joy, such as enjoying a pet or making something.
Self-care is such an important part of being a college student and of life as a whole. To best benefit yourself, you should always try to give yourself some grace and self-care during stressful times.