Self-Care: April Break Edition

We made it, people! It’s the official first day of April Break, so we encourage you to take this time to step back, commend yourself for all your hard work thus far, and focus on recharging.

But if you’re human, you’ll probably be bored by Day 3, especially with another lockdown upon us. So, here’s a carefree guide for what to do (or think about) when you’ve had enough of binge-watching.

1

Declutter your life

Whether it’s an untidy room or one’s camera roll, we are all surrounded by clutter that is slowly eating away at us. Okay, maybe it doesn’t go that deep. Or does it?

For many, organizing is often a therapeutic task. 91% of the students surveyed at King believe that staying organized is important to their personal wellbeing. Once turned into a habit, being organized can help you reduce stress, focus better, and save precious time in the future.  If it seems overwhelming, begin with mini-tasks such as cleaning out your workspace, computer files, or even a single drawer.

2

Reflect on your screen time

It’s become a necessity of our time to be engaged and on top of our communications constantly. Whether it’s group projects, club/council work or school-mandated actions, the pandemic has pushed everyone’s screen time to the limit. We don’t have to go over how sitting in front of a screen all day is putting pressure on our eyes, messing with our sleep, and affecting our health in ways we don’t even think of (let’s just say if you don’t move, neither will your bowels).

Instead, let’s reflect and set boundaries on how much we’re “available” online. A study at the University of British Columbia saw decreased stress levels among people who capped their email-checking at 3 times a day. Must check your email and DMs? Designate a few times a day to do it and stick to it.

3

Rescue your sleep routine

It’s become a habit of going to bed at 5 am and waking up past noon for many of us. No judgement, since not everyone has the same sleep-wake cycle. This can be due to various factors such as environment, level of activity throughout the day, and/or sleep disorders.

If it’s something you can control, then let’s use this time to give a regular sleep schedule a shot. Here are some simple things you can do to improve your sleep quality:

4

Call a friend

Yes, call. Believe it or not, texting doesn’t fulfill one’s need for social connection like hearing someone’s voice does. Use this time off from school to video chat with friends, as it may be a while before we get to see them in person again.

5

Engage in physical activity

This goes hand in hand with screen time since it’s arguably the biggest cause of inactivity among most people. Keeping public health restrictions in mind, find a time to go for a walk, run, or bike ride outside.  Fresh air contains more oxygen and less pollution than the indoor stuff, and higher oxygen intake is associated with lowered anxiety, increased mental clarity and quicker healing times. Every part of you will appreciate the exercise and fresh air, literally.

There is no better time to build good, strong habits than right now. We sincerely hope you found something useful to take away from this article. Have a safe and restful break, King!

This article is not intended to be health advice.