By: Serena Edwards
Think of yourself as a flower; before a flower blooms, it needs consistent care and attention. Without it, they take longer to bloom or even die before reaching their full potential. This is the same with people; you need self-care in order to care for other things. A lack of self-care eventually causes burnout.
I recently saw this trend on TikTok where people post how they’ve been “filling their cup” lately. It consists of hobbies that they’ve been getting back into, socializing with their friends/family, and doing things that overall make them happy. People (including myself) put other things first and forget to pour back into themselves. Consistently burning out because we forget to take care of the most important thing: ourselves.
Managing school, work, and relationships can become overwhelming, and you can end up putting hobbies you once appreciated aside .
Hobbies are crucial to self-identity and expression. Find activities you’ve strayed away from and dive back into them, whether it’s for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Devoting time to things you love that make you feel energized or comfortable. It doesn’t have to be perfect; they just have to bring you peace.
For me, I love journaling, doing makeup looks, painting, scrapbooking, and editing, just to name a few. These are things that teach me new skills, but also take my mind off multiple other tasks going on.
Isolation, at times, is important. Being social is also a way of exerting energy that you may not be able to give at the moment. Isolating normally comes with a negative connotation; however, there are benefits to isolation.
According to The Conversation, “People who perceive their time alone as ‘full’ rather than ’empty‘ are more likely to experience their alone time as meaningful, using it for growth-oriented purposes such as self-reflection or spiritual connection.”
Find comfort in solitude and dive deeper into who you are. When you don’t listen to your body, you end up taking it out on other things, such as friendships. Little things will trigger you without you being able to take notice of them.
Exercise is another method of pouring back into yourself, whether you’re a pilates princess or a daydreaming walker. Finding ways to keep your blood pumping and mind occupied keeps you moving without overworking yourself.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “it has been proposed that regular physical activity facilitates psychological detachment from work, and in this way reduces the risk of prolonged stress responses such as burnout.”
One of the most underrated things we don’t think about when pouring back into ourselves is rest. Sleep is a huge element that affects your health and behavior. Without sleep, it’s like a long walk on a tightrope, one wrong move and you fall off the edge. Your body needs rest after using energy over a certain amount of time. This is particularly important when you’re mentally and physically exhausted. Sleep recharges your body and allows your body to relax to its full capacity.
According to Cornell Health, “most college-aged students need 7–9 hours of sleep in order to avoid daytime drowsiness (inability to concentrate or remember and slowed reaction time), altered mood states (anxiety, irritability, and depression), weight gain, poor health, and low energy.”
There are times when you don’t feel like pushing forward; however, that’s when it’s crucial to take a step back and replenish. Choosing yourself should always be the first priority because without that, you end up pouring into others with an empty cup. Take the first signs of burnout the same way you do when you get a notification about your phone dying. Find a charger and take steps to replenish yourself.
As we enter this semester, remember to pour into yourself so you can remain your best self!