As students, we are always stressed. Whether it’s for school, personal reasons, friends, social media… And this covid situation isn’t helping. We still have some moments in which we feel like we just need to take a break and have some time for ourselves. This stress and anxiety usually make us forget to do self-care activities for our mental and physical well-being. In this article, I will be talking you through a bunch of self-care activities that you could do when you want some time for yourself.
1. Cooking
Cooking is one of the most underrated self-care activities ever. Not only do you get to improve your creativity but you also get to try new recipes and taste amazing foods. I usually like to find my recipes on Pinterest. It’s also a huge satisfaction when you cook something delicious, and it’s appreciated by your family. When we are at home, we often have some extra time that we could use to bake or cook something. It may sound cliché but the food does make you happier.
2. Go for a walk
You have probably heard this a hundred times, but it is scientifically proven that spending time outside can improve your mental health. Put on some music, spend some time away from your phone, and just reflect on life. I always thought it would be a boring activity until I tried it. You finally get a break from everything else and you get to spend some time alone with yourself and your thoughts. If you feel you would get bored on your own, bring a friend! Socialising is a great way to get your mind off things and have a chat with someone.
3. Go Window Shopping
Of course, it’s important to be able to save money for essential things. That is why I love to go window shopping. I usually go with my family, more often my mom. It’s fun to rate each thing we see and say which one we would buy. As teenagers, we often don’t like to spend time with our parents. It’s one of those ages at which we just want to be left alone with our friends. But it’s nice to not have to talk about anything school-related with your parents and bond with them. Of course, it’s also fun to go window shopping with your friends.
4. Journal
Again, another super cliché one. But trust me on this one, writing down your thoughts WILL improve your mental health. We all have things that we keep to ourselves and don’t feel like sharing with other people. Having a journal to write on is the best way to get these thoughts out of our heads. The best thing is to do it at the end of the day before going to bed so that you can talk about how your day went and what happened. It is also amazing to read these journals a few years later and look back to what life was like.
- Emma Lomurno