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How to balance self-care while juggling university studies

October 29, 2024

The importance of self-care

Integrating self-care into university life is challenging. Sometimes, you feel the need to put your studies before your self-care. This should never be the case after you read through this document. Self-care is the foundation of success in any field. Self-care does not look identical to everyone; each person's way of expressing love and appreciation for themselves does not look identical. Examples are doing a hobby you love, spending time with nature, riding a bike, etc.

SpongeBob gif. Patrick sitting crossed-legged atop his rock, eyes closed finger to thumb, meditating, incense all around.

How to incorporate self-care into your routine

Journaling

First thing in the morning would be showing love, appreciation, and or gratitude for the day by praying, meditating, or journaling. This gives many people a sense of reassurance and calmness and sets them on the right path and mood for the day.

For journals, get one with prompts that you can understand and answer fully.

Stop motion gif. A stuffed pig is sitting at a table writing in a notebook. It looks very studious as its head tips back and forth in concentration.

Have a good morning routine

Next, skincare and breakfast are crucial for setting a balanced tone into your university days. Men and women should prioritize skincare, not just the face but the whole body; getting a little body treatment wouldn’t hurt. A body properly taken care of through skincare and hygiene is set to take on any day. Ideas to enhance your skincare routine are face masks, bath bombs, massages, body scrubs, and body oils.

Moving towards taking classes in your schedule, have a water bottle to stay hydrated between and during lectures. You get the best benefits when you quench your thirst while learning simultaneously. While studying at school, I try to rely on a Pomodoro method to make room for breaks. The choice is yours when choosing the intervals, for example, 25 minutes and 5 minutes break or 30 minutes and 5 minutes breaks. The Pomodoro method is trending on YouTube; I recommend choosing the ones with a calm music background.

Video gif. Against a soft pink background, a woman in a beige bathrobe with dreadlocks in a bun lifts a shiny pink sleeping mask from her eyes. She reacts with excitement as she notices us, and greets us with a big smile. Yellow text grows from bottom of frame, "Good morning."

Rest!

At the end of the day, a good 10-15 min rest is well deserved, doing absolutely nothing, for instance, lying down, sitting in silence, or even taking a quick nap. Afterward, eating a good meal is crucial before studying. For this studying session, you can use Pomodoro once more or any other study method that works for you. Your night routine should prioritize a good sleeping schedule, so no phone or laptop 1 hour before bedtime, preferably 11 pm) to prepare your body for slumber. Take time to unwind before sleeping, put on pajamas, do your skincare, do dental care, and do everything you need to go to bed smoothly.

Additional ways to have a balanced day

Other than this ideal balanced day, here are a few more tips for balancing your university studies with self-care.

  • Get entertained in Toronto with friends: Check out something fun to do with your friends at BlogTo.

  • Join a club at Ontario Tech: There’s nothing like having fun between lectures and getting to know people.

  • Are you feeling active? Spend some time working out in the university gym. Various machines help you bulk up, tone up, or slim down.

  • Need fresh air? Take a walk after studying. It helps clear your mind and take a break from your schoolwork

By Miranda Tafoho