Self care during finals season

Written by: Brooke Martin

Everyone needs a break from those busy moments in their life. Whether it’s finals, a stressful day at work, or you have other things going on in your life, a little “you-time” never hurt anybody! I don’t know about you, but I LOVE self-care. It has been one of the major things I’ve made a significant effort to keep constant during this crazy year. Since this is my first year in university, this will also be my first finals season, but that doesn’t mean I’m short of any self-care tips! Many of these are things that work for me, but I’ve also included a few extra. Everyone is different, and everyone enjoys different things.

A hot bath

I love baths! Even if I don’t need to wash my hair, I still find them very relaxing. Grab your laptop, your favourite candle, and your choice of bubble bath, bath bomb, or maybe even some epsom salts, and hop in! Lay back, close your eyes, or maybe even watch some Netflix. Forget about everything else going on, and just relax.

My favourite bubble bath is called ‘Love’ at Bath and Body Works.

Meditate

Meditating is TOTALLY underrated. Recently, I started meditating before I sleep, and I’ve been getting a much better sleep! All you need for this one is a phone or a laptop with an internet connection. You can find a ton on YouTube, but I use the app ‘Headspace’. Whether you decide to take a short break in the middle of the day, or relax before it’s time to go to sleep, I find meditation to always help me out.

Spa night

Normally, I’d say grab your BFFs and have a spa night! But in the current conditions, you can either do this on your own, or with someone in your household bubble! This one is very open ended and you can do many different things, but here are some of my favorites. Put on a comfy robe and some slippers, diffuse your favourite essential oil, light a candle, put on your favourite face mask, paint your nails, maybe do a foot soak with some bath salts! There are so many different options.

Movie night

I am a big movie buff! One of my favourite things to do is pop my favourite popcorn (with extra butter), cuddle up in bed, and throw on a movie! Sometimes it’s one I already know, and sometimes it’s something I’ve never seen before. I do know that a good comedy can always turn my mood around. If you have any suggestions, be sure to let me know in the comments!

Yoga

During a stressful time, there’s nothing like some physical exercise to rejuvenate your brain! Personally, I love yoga. It’s normally not too quick paced, or likely to exhaust me, and I love challenging myself to do the crazy flexible moves! There’s a ton of videos on YouTube, or you can download an app on your phone that has a ton of different routines.

Video games

I don’t know about you, but there’s nothing like a good gaming sesh to take a break from working hard. One of my favorite games right now is Stardew Valley! It’s super chill, and you basically just run around growing plants, and fishing! It’s not very expensive either! There’s a ton of games out there to check out.

Read a book

When I was younger, I used to read ALL the time! But as I’ve grown older and become busier with school and extracurricular things, I have never carved out the time. Lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to read more, even if it’s just a few pages a day. I’ve always been a sucker for cheesy romance novels like “I’ve got your Number” by Sophie Kinsella (which I’m reading right now so no spoilers!), but feel free to read whatever genre floats your boat!

Dance party

I love a good dance party! Throw on your favourite playlist, and pretend no one's watching! Feel free to grab a hairbrush, let loose, and pretend you're the artist! Sing into your hairbrush, or whatever you have closest to you, and belt it out to your heart's content. This is my favourite dance party playlist right now.

No matter which (or any) of these you try, always remember that you’ve got this! If you have any other things you love to do for yourself, let me know! I’d love to try them out.