"In health care, self care is any necessary human regulatory function which is under individual control, deliberate and self-initiated. Some place self care on a continuum with healthcare providers at the opposite end to self care. In modern medicine, preventive medicine aligns most closely with self care." -Wikipedia definition of self-care.
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Being in college, a lot is expected of every single student attending classes and living on that campus. Suddenly you're thrown into this big environment, forced to do everything yourself, and you're now responsible for every little thing that you do. You no longer have mommy and daddy around just to bail you out of every bad decision that you make, and it can be incredibly stressful for students to handle. Which is why self-care is so incredibly important for students to build into their daily or weekly lives.
Backstory: When I first got into college, I felt as though I had to accomplish everything thrown at me with flying colors, pure perfection in everything I had to do. I thought that if I wasn't perfect, I wasn't going to succeed. But it took me quite a while to realize one major thing: It's important to build self-care strategies and times into your life on a regular basis, and without it you're truly no good to those around you. I still have major struggles with this concept to this day, four years after I first began attending college, and I have a feeling that I will have issues with this concept of putting myself first once in a while for quite a long time.
Taking the time out of your busy schedule to do something strictly for yourself and your enjoyment is not a selfish thing to do. Don't feel bad if you have to turn down plans with your friends because you just want to relax in bed and read a book on your day off, or turning down an extra unscheduled shift at work to cover for someone else if you just need a few hours of binging shows on Netflix without a care in the world. It's okay to do that sometimes. For the sake of your personal sanity and ability to function throughout society as expected, it needs to happen at least every so often.
“Self-care is never a selfish act—it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.” -Parker Palmer
It probably sounds cliché, but it's true to say that you need to take care of yourself before you're able to take care of others. Just like how on an airplane you're instructed to place your own air mark on your face before proceeding to help other people around you. If you can't help yourself, then how are you expected to help other people around you? How can you help those who are drowning if you're drowning too?
No matter what anyone else tells you, remember that it's crucial to your happiness and quality of life to take time for yourself, especially in times of overwhelming stress and constant activity in your life. It is not selfish for you to put yourself first once in a while. Though it can be a strange concept to grasp, and it might be hard to comprehend fully when you have this urge to help everyone around you at all times, it's important to know that you don't have to every single time it's asked of you. You're allowed to slow down, take a minute for yourself just to enjoy what life has to offer. Remember that it's important to think about yourself when you're muddled with the thoughts, feelings, and activities of those around you.
