Like many others, I have a tendency to be one of those people who automatically jump to making the same New Year’s resolutions: work out, go on a diet, etc. This year, I’ve decided to re-label my resolution as “Self-Care,” which is my 2017 #OneWordSA.
I know this may seem super cliché, so hear me out. Self-Care means so much more than simply attempting to lose weight or go to the gym because it’s what everyone else is doing. Promoting Self-Care is a commitment to a lifestyle change that will essentially affect not only your external self, but your internal mindset as well. Self-Care is not only working toward a healthier diet and exercising, but making sure that you are following through with the things you love, managing your stress, and getting enough sleep. Self-Care is a commitment to loving yourself.
Why is Self-Care my focus?
This past semester I struggled more with my diagnosed depression and anxiety more than I have in the past few years. As a Residence Hall Director, I often find myself struggling to maintain my work/life balance. I’d eat whatever unhealthy foods I wanted. I would go to bed late and drink excessive amounts of coffee the next day. I would constantly push myself to hang out with friends when I was in dire need of some introvert time. At the end of the semester, I was a serious mess. I found myself having panic attacks on an almost daily basis. I was not taking care of myself and making “me time” a priority.
I’m sure that many of you can relate to this, especially if you are an employee who lives on-campus. Unfortunately, this tends to be “normal” for some of us in Student Affairs. This year I’m committing to making sure that this is not my “normal”. I challenge you all to do the same.
What am I doing about it?
I commit to eating healthy for the sake of my well-being. I commit to going on more walks and scheduling more Therapeutic Yoga classes. Finally, I commit to reading more, going to the Farmer’s Market/on adventures in town, and blogging (three things that I pull away from when I slip into depression). I’ll always try to keep in mind that I cannot help others if I am not taking care of myself. This is something that I truly have to abide by this year.
Again, I challenge you to reflect on your Self-Care habits. When you begin to take care of yourself you will see a huge difference in your mentality, energy levels, and ability to manage stress. If you need some inspiration or support I encourage you to follow the #SAFit hashtag on Twitter as well!
This post is part of our #OneWordSA series for January. Student affairs professionals are goal-oriented, change positive, individuals. One word mantras for 2017 are a great way to create focus in the new year. Find out what all kinds of pros are choosing as their #onewordSA this year. For more info, please see Sabina’s intro post. Be sure to check out the other posts in this series too!
