Schoolwork is rarely the only priority in a college student’s life. There’s work, extracurricular activities, your social life, your mental health and more. If you’re always moving from one thing to the next, surviving on energy drinks and constantly stressed, you might be thinking, “When am I going to find time for self-care?”
Traditional self-care advice doesn’t usually work for busy students because you have different responsibilities, a different environment and different resources available than the typical adult. You can’t rearrange your class schedule, and you may not have a whole lot of time for your hobbies during busy times.
It’s the smallest micro-habits that can make the biggest difference for college students. Keeping self-care tasks to just a couple of simple steps ensures that you can squeeze them in when you need them most, without major disruptions. If you don’t get to them every day, it’s OK. Setting reminders on your phone or creating calendar events can help you fit them in as often as possible.
Try adding one of the following five-minute self-care activities to your routine:
Five-minute morning routine: Setting your day up for success
What do you do the moment you shut off your alarm in the morning? If you hit snooze or stare at the ceiling for too long, you might need a new routine. Maybe you start stretching before you get up. Or maybe you set your alarm to play some energetic music and dance your way out of bed. Whatever helps wake you up and lift your mood first thing is a good choice. Do it every day for a couple of weeks and see how you feel.
The pomodoro technique for study breaks
The pomodoro technique is a system of working in 30-minute increments with 25 minutes of work and a five-minute break. It helps you stay focused and get a lot done without getting overwhelmed. The trick is to do something that recharges you during that five-minute break. You can check your phone for a couple of minutes, but it helps to get away from your desk to stretch, move, refill your water or have a snack. Search for fun pomodoro technique videos on YouTube.
Five minutes of deep breathing or mindfulness
Just five minutes of meditation, mindfulness or deep breathing can have significant effects, especially if you fit in multiple mindfulness breaks each day. Find a quiet spot or put some calming music on and set your phone timer. When you’re just focusing on the present moment, five minutes can seem like a long time!
The five-minute self-care check-in
Doing quick check-ins with yourself to make sure your needs are met can make a big difference in how you feel and how much you can accomplish. Try doing a head-to-toe body scan and identifying what sensations you notice. Or make yourself a short list of questions to review once or twice a day.
Here are some ideas for your self-care check-in:
- What emotion am I feeling?
- Have I eaten and drunk enough water today?
- Have I taken a break?
- Have I moved my body?
- What do I need?
Five minutes of grounding
Grounding can be as simple as feeling the floor or your chair beneath you and focusing on that for a few minutes. Getting outside to feel the sun on your face and touch some grass or sit under a tree is even better. Try going outside between classes to feel a bit more grounded and centered.
How can you start caring for yourself in five minutes or less?
Self-care doesn’t require hours of free time; it requires intentional moments woven into the life you’re already living. What times of day do you notice you need an extra boost? And what simple self-care activities might energize you the most?
Choose one or two ideas to try this week and see how it goes. It’s also a good practice to set aside about an hour of “you time” at least once a week. You can always make adjustments or try something else if it doesn’t work for you.
If simple self-care isn’t enough to manage your stress, you may benefit from seeking mental health care. An outpatient therapist can help with mild stress that doesn’t cause too much impairment. If you’re feeling more intense distress or having a hard time functioning, you may need a higher level of treatment.
College has its stressful times, but with the right support, these can be moments of personal growth and resilience-building. If you’re ever considering intensive mental health care, we can help.
Start your journey toward personalized mental health treatment today. Let our Admissions Concierge Team guide you every step of the way.
