Students have a lot on their plates, from studying for exams to attending part-time jobs, and it can be easy to neglect their own well-being. Even on your busiest days, just ten minutes of self-care can have a positive effect on your mood and help you recharge.
Importance of Self-Care For Students
By practising self-care, you take time out of your day to focus solely on yourself. Doing this can prevent burnout, help you manage stress, and ensure you put yourself first.
Physical Self-Care
Stepping Outside for 10 Minutes
Going outdoors and hearing nature sounds, such as birds chirping and the wind blowing, can calm your nervous system and lower cortisol levels (your stress hormone). Spending time outside also exposes you to natural sunlight, helping your body produce vitamin D, which plays an important role in mood regulation. Walking can also reduce stress and trigger the release of endorphins, often called “feel-good” hormones, which help boost mood. Multiple studies have shown that stepping outside for just a short time can have positive effects.
Taking a Short Shower
The shower is a calm space where you can focus on yourself with minimal distractions. Taking a shower can trigger the release of oxytocin, which can help you feel safe, relaxed and happy. A warm evening shower allows you to unwind for the evening by relaxing tense muscles, washing away the day’s stress, and improving sleep.
Making Sure to Stretch
When stressed, your body can tighten muscles in areas such as the shoulders, neck and back. Gentle stretching can help relieve tension and not only make your body feel better, but your mind too.
Social Self-Care
Saying No to Plans When You’re Tired
This is your reminder that it’s okay to take time for yourself when you need it. While it’s important to catch up with friends, an evening doing something you love, whether that’s reading a book, baking, or doing art, can help you recharge and prevent burnout.
Checking in With Quick Texts
With lots of assignments and lectures filling up your schedule, finding space to catch up with people from home and see friends can seem almost impossible at times. However, staying in contact with the people we care about is important, as it can reduce stress and loneliness and help us feel grounded. Sending texts or voice notes to check in is a quick and convenient way to stay in touch.
Catching Up With a Housemate
It’s easy to come home after a long day and head straight to your room without speaking to your housemates. But taking a moment to strike up a conversation in the kitchen or living room means you can connect with a familiar face. Even a quick check-in about someone’s day can help you feel less stressed and remind you that you’re not alone.
Financial Self-Care
Setting Budgets
Financial self-care isn’t about having all the money in the world; it’s about taking steps to ease financial stress and gain control. One way you can do this is by setting budgets. On many modern banking apps, you can categorise your spending and see where your money is going. By looking at different categories, you may be able to spot an area or two where you can save money, such as on food or travel. You can then create realistic budgets to help you spend less and avoid unnecessary headaches.
Tracking Your Spending
Turn on notifications for your digital baking app, so you see each time money comes out of your bank account. This makes it easier to track your spending and stay within your budget. At the same time, make sure you log into your bank account once or twice a week to see how close you’re getting to your budget.
Building an Emergency Fund
Whether your car needs an unexpected repair or your laptop breaks, you never know when things could go wrong. Having money saved offers financial security and peace of mind. You might think saving as a student is impossible, but it’s not if you do it in very small chunks. Saving even just five pounds a week can add up over time.
Reduce Your Financial Stress With The Student Energy Group
At The Student Energy Group, we understand the importance of self-care while studying. As a student bills company, we aim to reduce financial stress so you can focus on you. We’ll combine all your bills into one monthly student bills package, including energy, gas, water, internet and TV licence. You can split this evenly between you and your housemates, making it much easier to manage your expenses and stick to your budgets. When you sign up with us, we’ll plant a tree! Get a free, no-obligation quote from us today.
