10 pieces of self-care advice

College life can be stressful, and finding both the time to practice self-care and methods that work for you is valuable. Hear from 10 Sun Devils who have advice for their fellow students about how they stay on top of their personal wellness and how you can too. 

1. “My advice is remember to give yourself a break. You have more time than you think. Take time to breathe and relax. Being stressed can impact the way you study and retain information.”

2. “Prioritize your health! If you feel better, you perform better. Set small rewards for yourself to keep you motivated and use good computer posture.”

3. “Always make time to eat! Even if you are busy or stressed and don't have an appetite, your body needs fuel to work efficiently. You ALWAYS have time in your day for a proper meal.”

4. “The biggest thing that I learned my first year was that my health comes first. It's important to get sleep, drink plenty of water and exercise. Your overall health is super important to academic success. Trying to find a balance between health, academics and social life can be hard, but take it one day at a time!”

5. “Get out of your dorm. You'll focus better when you get outside and take a break sometimes. Studies have shown that getting up and taking a break helps increase cognitive ability! Working out, throwing in some vegetables, taking some relaxation time, socializing and sleep all give you an edge.”

6. “Academics are important, but make an effort to take study breaks by using the gym or the pool, or going hiking. Health is number one. College and homework can feel overwhelming, but taking the time to exercise can certainly help ease the stress and anxiety. Taking time for you and your health can give you the confidence and balance to succeed at ASU.”

7. “Mental health is always important, but remember that , especially in these times, that others are being mindful of their mental health. Being sensitive to that and giving those around you grace, is a sign of maturity and good spiritual health.”

8. “Make sure you get enough sleep every night. This requires you to be organized with your work, but it is worth it. It takes me almost double the time to do something if I'm sleep-deprived. No work is important enough to justify damaging your health.”

9. “Starting at ASU can be scary and hard to get used to, so if you are dealing with lots of stress and anxiety, don't be afraid to reach out for help from your friends, family or professionals. And remember it's okay to decrease your load of work if it becomes too overwhelming. Your mental health is super important and should be prioritized!”

10. “If you are getting lonely, sad or finding it hard to focus, you might just need sleep, nutritious food, or some exercise to get your hormones regulated correctly. Most of the time, you just need to treat yourself right to perform well.”

Here’s what we want you to take away from this advice: Eat, sleep and move. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed or stressed about classes from time to time, but making sure you set aside time for yourself to take breaks is key. Sometimes it’s the right move to put down your homework to get some sleep, grab a snack or call a friend.