According to the internet, self-care is defined as the process of establishing behaviors to ensure better health and a clear mind. It can range from things such as meditation to taking yourself out to eat. Depending on the kind of person you are, your version of self-care can vary.
This time of year is always stressful, especially for college students. From the holidays to finals, there’s a lot going on. Self-care is used to relieve this stress, and hopefully make room for a positive mindset. I asked multiple people what activities they define as self-care, and the answers were quite interesting.
The most common answer was sleep. Though factually, we need sleep to function, I wanted to understand why it was so effective for some people. Personally, I hate going to sleep without a clear mind, but for others, it seems to help them forget whatever they’re stressing about, though sleep is only temporary. Another common answer that I got for the activities that define self-care was a makeover. From getting your hair done/cut, to going to the mall and buying everything that you see. For these people, it just makes them feel better about themselves.
Although most people define these efforts as self-care, I think it’s best characterized by things that make you feel mentally refreshed. Nature has always helped to give me that peace of mind that I desire such as sitting outside, listening to the rain, or watching all of the different kinds of animals and insects wander about. I think that especially in this day and age, we often get caught up with the artificial things and disconnect from nature.
All of the different answers that I received to “What is self-care?” plainly shows that there is no right or wrong answer to the question because it’s a personal experience. Whatever makes you feel better about yourself is your self-care no matter how simple or complex. We all should consistently be sure to have our own self-care days because a free mind gives you the opportunity to flourish in all aspects of your life.