The timing of this article could not have been more perfect for me, unfortunately. I am sitting in my room post-crash out from the first week of my Master’s degree, which was, as I expected, an extremely stressful and hectic week. But, fear not, we have all completed the first few weeks now and can dedicate some time to care for ourselves, especially as students. So, here are some things which I will be doing tonight to help decompress and recharge in this autumn semester. I hope that if you are in the same position as me, you can take some tips from this.
Calming Bath / Shower
In these colder months, a bath is preferred, but a hot shower works just as well. Splurge on some nice pumpkin spice scented shower gels and face masks and really relax. A full cleanse in the shower brings a cleanse of the mind with it. Put on your favourite album or read a good book and let your mind go blank – I promise you will feel better!
Invest time reading a new book or watching a new show or film.
The best escape is sometimes a fictional one. I recommend browsing your local bookshop or Netflix to find a new show to watch. My personal recommendations for an easy watch are the new seasons of Love is Blind and Wednesday on Netflix. For a more emotional, yet amazing, read, I’d recommend A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum. For a regular evening relaxation, The Celebrity Traitors on BBC is drawing to a close, so for an evening self-care ritual after a long day, why not catch up on that?
Step completely away from your work – get into a new environment
Leave your flat or house and go somewhere completely different. Whether that be a walk to the shops, to the park or getting on the tram and going somewhere further out. I find that when I am in the same space for too long, like the library or my house, there comes a point where I cannot concentrate anymore. A change of scenery allows for a change in perspective, and when you eventually return to your studies, you will feel so much better.
Allow yourself to have a proper good night’s sleep
With the early sunsets fast approaching, sleep schedules can become shifted. One of my favourite things to do to take care of myself is to prepare for a restful sleep. Turn all electronics off early, have a bath, pour yourself a sleepy time tea, get into clean and comfy pyjamas with fuzzy socks and get into a bed with fresh sheets. Resetting your sleep routine can reset your mind and allow you to rest.
Clean your room and space
Change your sheets, light a new candle and clear out any rubbish or clothes that you don’t need anymore. Taking out a small portion of time in your day to clean your room or space can work wonders. I always feel that a clean space helps with a clean mind.
Image credits: Jen P. (Unsplash)
