Tips for Free Self-Care
By Milenia James
As I was entering the fall semester of my sophomore year, I found myself asking the question: how on earth would I, as an over-caffeinated, stressed-out student practice self-care for this upcoming semester? With recruitment season coming up, a full course load, and trying to squeeze in spontaneous coffee-runs with my friends, how would I even have the time for self-care?
Would I have to frantically purchase essential oils or $9 face masks from Sephora? The answer to that is definitely not. As consumers, we are often convinced into thinking that a green-tea eye mask will help improve our mental health and overall well-being. While I do love indulging in a green-tea eye mask from time to time, I find there are various other easy, budget-friendly ways to practice self-care.
If there’s anything that I’ve learned, it’s that self-care is learning to be kind to your body and prioritizing your emotional well-being. Raw and real self-care is a power that no company can manufacture and sell. I’ve listed some of my favorite self-care tips. Feel free to use as many as you see fit.
1. The Wellness Exchange: Free Counseling services
If it wasn’t hammered into your head enough during welcome week, the free counseling services are a blessing. Whether you go in during walk-in hours or schedule an appointment, these services are a great way to discuss anything without any judgment. I find scheduling an appointment with a consistent counselor to be really helpful! Spots do fill up quickly, so make sure you schedule yours in as soon as possible! If you don’t find that you have a connection with the first therapist you meet, don’t stress. Finding your perfect fit takes time.
2. Don’t Spend as much time in Stern
I bet you didn’t see that one coming. Listen, I love Stern, but I find that when I spend great deal of time at Stern, from hanging out on the third floor of Tisch hall, or heading to classes, I can get really overwhelmed. Stern has an very competitive atmosphere and exposing yourself to that environment all the time can be draining. I find the seventh floor of Kimmel or the Blue Stripes Café to be a fun and productive place to cram for study session.
3. Stop Comparing Yourself
You’ve heard this one, and you’re going to hear it again. So what if Kevin from CorpFin got an investment banking offer from Goldman Sachs? You don’t know what Kevin’s experiences are (whether he coffee-chatted the living hell out of Goldman analysts) or if he spent every night on wallstreetoasis.com trying to prepare for finance technicals. The bottom line is that it doesn’t matter. Kevin’s success in one aspect of life does not diminish your own. You are a woman in business at one of the most selective universities in the country. You hold so much power. Your journey is unique and specific to you. While it can be intimidating hearing about how your peers got offers at top firms, know that you are on a path that no one else will ever have the chance to experience. And that is wonderful.
4. Remember your pastimes!
Is there that soul cycle class you’ve been meaning to go on? Or that cool new poke restaurant that just opened up that you’ve been dying to try? Don’t forget to once in a while to treat yourself. Recruitment can be an overwhelming, time consuming, draining process, so I urge you to once in a while to do the things that you love. This can be a great moment to ground yourself, and remind yourself why you’re working so hard in the first place. Personally, I love working out and baking (running on the treadmill and rewarding myself with a muffin after, you know the drill) and I find they allow me to release my pent up stress and anxieties into an activity I enjoy. Even taking a half an hour to yourself to watch Jane the Virgin or savor a cup of coffee can prevent you from going in brain/work overload. When you enjoy your hobby, make sure that’s the only other thing you’re doing. Savor that moment for what it is.
I guess the bottom line I’m trying to emphasize is by making sure you dedicate a little extra time to yourself during recruitment season. Remember that self-care is mostly an internal makeover, one that involves removing yourself from toxic situations and placing your needs first. Remember that it’s totally okay to take a step back from time to time to self-reflect. Best of luck during recruitment season! I hope you get your dream offer.