Self-care in everyday life
By Sophie Isbister, Life & Style Editor
If you’re a busy student like me, with classes, a part-time job, and a bustling social life to attend to, it’s easy to forget to take care of yourself. There are lots of ways to focus on your health, including simple things such as eating vegetables, getting enough sleep, and keeping your desk organized. These daily activities fall under the category of “self-care,” which is a buzz-term people have been using lately to refer to anything that, well, takes care of you.
Putting daily life activities aside for a moment, it’s also important to take care of your more overlooked needs, such as the need to splurge on yourself from time to time. The end of the semester and the wrapping up of classes presents a perfect opportunity to invest in some extravagant self-care, like spa and beauty services, new clothes, or even some much-needed vegging out time with your besties.
“Treat yo’self,” introduced on the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation, refers to the one day of the year that Pawnee parks board staff members Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle treat themselves. They spend a day purchasing clothes, fragrances, massages, mimosas, and fine leather goods. Described as “the best day of the year,” it’s a tantalizing concept that has spawned countless memes on the Internet. And it also happens to be something that I recommend we all do as classes end and exam period begins.
It can be very beneficial to take a break from hitting the books to relax with friends and treat yo’self. Try going for frozen yogurt at Metrotown and then heading to a nearby cheap-and-cheerful nail salon (I like Stanley Nails at 4723 Kingsway) for a quick manicure. The whole afternoon won’t cost you a fortune, but the time spent shopping and chatting with your friends will pay dividends in de-stressing.
Not so into nails? Pick a cheesy or fun show to marathon. Maybe you need to have a Gilmore Girls and junk food party, or a Scandal and red wine party. Whatever your poison is, try to set aside at least one night during exam period to forget about your studies and relax.
Studying for exams non-stop can be stressful—that’s why it’s important to take a few (okay, several) special moments to yourself. The verdict is in on self-care, and part of a balanced lifestyle has to include some time spent pampering yourself. So, in-between all-night cram sessions, make a list of things on your self-care bucket list. Maybe you’ve never had a massage, or maybe you’ve never had cupcakes for lunch. Now is the perfect time to try. A little bit of insanity might just keep you sane this week.
