March 9th, 2023
Form a Self-Care Action Plan
UWGB’s Spring Break is March 13-17, and even if you have to work instead of sitting on a sunny beach in the Bahamas, it’s important to take advantage of the lack of classes and practice some self-care. You’ll need to rejuvenate so you are ready to finish the second half of the semester as strongly as you can. (Without saying “finish strong,” because that’s grammatically incorrect. Rant over.). According to Lifehacker.com, “Self-care helps prevent burnout, reduces the negative psychological and physical effects of stress, and helps you focus on what is true and important.”It might be tempting to just agree to vaguely practice self-care over break, but maybe you need more of a push to actually do something for yourself. You might benefit from a Self-Care Action Plan.Take a few minutes to write down all of the things you could do over break that would help you relax, rest, and repair. Here’s the start of my list:
- Take a hot bath with your favorite music and a good book.
- Use any self-care amenities available at your gym, such as a sauna, a hot tub, or a red-light therapy room.
- Make a hair appointment. Put your phone down during the appointment and just relax as you chat with your stylist.
- Work in more exercise, especially rejuvenating methods like yoga or Pilates. There are plenty of free videos on YouTube and Amazon Prime to get you started!
- Try ten minutes of daily meditation. YouTube and Spotify have plenty of free sessions, and the Calm app has a few nice ones in its free version. If you make a pact with yourself to put aside ten minutes every day during break, you might be well on your way to forming a healthy habit by the time classes start again.
- Buy yourself a favorite snack. Sit somewhere pretty and enjoy it.
- Go to a movie in the theater. Put your phone away and get lost in something happy and/or ridiculous. (I’ve heard Cocaine Bear is a hoot, and the bear doesn’t die at the end. Sorry for the spoiler, but who wants to see an innocent bear we’ve followed for two hours get offed, cocaine-fueled rage aside?)
- Go outside. It’s second winter, so you might be able to try some cross-country skiing or, at least, take a soggy hike. UWGB-Marinette’s maintenance staff built and installed some lovely benches in Runnoe Park, the small park on the bay across from campus. Just a quick walk across the street to stare at the water can help fill your soul. And if the snow starts to melt, you might be able to build a snowman when the snow hits that sweet spot for packability.
- Create an art or craft project. Grace Desotell and Ariel Rutten have some nifty ideas in the Ultimate Hobbies section.
And of course, this week is a great time to connect with friends and family, especially those you haven’t seen while you’ve been busy with classes. Have a wonderful break, and we’ll see you soon!