Self - Care on a Student Budget : Twelve Practical Ways to Make Life in College Better
Here are twelve easy and inexpensive (or even free!) ideas for how to integrate real self-care into your college routine, without consuming all your free time or compromising your budget.
By Ceanna Hayes Daniels — June 7, 2023
For college students with hectic schedules, high ambitions, and tight budgets, it can be difficult to prioritize restful activities like self-care. In part, this is due to a flawed narrative of what self-care entails. Because it's often portrayed as an expensive, elaborate, and primarily passive state — a luxury reserved for those with the disposable income and free time necessary for long vacations and expensive skin care products — it can seem unattainable or even wasteful to the average college student. However, self-care is actually as simple as the words sound.
Self-care just means taking care of yourself — it doesn't have to include face masks or bubble baths to make a difference in your life. It also doesn't have to be time-consuming, expensive, or complex in any other way. Oftentimes, it just means putting in a few minutes of work today to improve your life tomorrow.
To help you get started, here are twelve easy and inexpensive (or even free!) ideas for how to integrate real self-care into your college routine, without consuming all your free time or compromising your budget.
1. Take a Nap.
Sometimes, self-care is as easy as adding a nap to your afternoon schedule. This is especially helpful during hectic weeks such as exam season, when you might not be getting enough sleep at night and could use the extra rest.2. Clean Your Room.
Real self-care requires investment in your best future, not just doing the easiest or most comfortable thing available at the time. Although it's certainly easier to ignore messes as they begin build up, having a clean and organized living space will improve your life dramatically, so set aside some time to tackle any messes that are making it difficult to relax or study in your dorm room. (If cleaning the entire space is overwhelming, set a timer for fifteen minutes and just tidy what you can in that time. Even making a dent in the work is worthwhile!)3. Journal.
Although the advice to take up journaling is cliché at this point, it's popular for good reason — taking time to reflect on what's going well in your life and what you hope to improve helps to reduce anxiety and overwhelm, fosters a sense of peace about the future, and increases your self-understanding. Because you only need pen and paper to get started, it's also one of the easiest and cheapest forms of self-care.4. Unfollow Accounts that Make You Feel Inadequate
While it can be easy to discredit or underplay its impact, social media has the potential to devastate your mental health if it isn't used intentionally. Allow yourself to honestly assess whether the accounts you follow are positively contributing to your overall well-being. Unfollow each account that makes you feel inadequate, behind in life, depressed, or anxious. Only continue following accounts that inspire you to grow, connect you with loved ones, or otherwise improve your daily life. If you're unsure whether or not an account should be cut, ask yourself if the best version of yourself would be influenced by the person running the account. If the answer is no, unfollow them. If you hesitate or are otherwise unsure, mute the account and see if your mental health improves in its absence.5. Read Something Just for Fun.
With so many reading assignments in your homework, additional reading might seem like another chore. However, selecting a book that has nothing to do with your classes is a great way to reclaim some of your free time for personal growth, entertainment, or pure nostalgia. Whether you try a new read your friends have been recommending or bring a new perspective to an old favorite, the time will be restful and rewarding. To make this budget-friendly, visit the college library or check out a used bookstore in town rather than purchasing from a large chain store.6. Keep Protein-Rich Snacks in Your Backpack.
If you've ever had to rush from class to class without breakfast or stayed up late to prep for an exam, you know the feeling of digging through your backpack hoping that there's something inside to keep you going until the dining hall reopens. To take care of your future self, take some time today to grab a few protein-rich snacks to keep in your backpack. Shelf-stable snacks that combine protein and healthy fats, like trail mix, are especially good choices because they provide more lasting fuel than coffee or candy bars can, as both caffeine and sugar only provide brief energy before causing you to crash.7. Schedule a "Life Admin" Day.
One of the best ways you can take care of yourself is by eliminating some or all of the little stressors that gradually pile up over the course of the week, month, or semester. By scheduling a "life admin day" — a day dedicated to addressing the small, nagging administrative tasks that usually get pushed to another time — you'll decrease distractions, reduce your mental load, and prevent yourself from forgetting important tasks like time-sensitive paperwork. Make it more fun by with snacks and some of your favorite music!8. Get Intentional about the Dining Hall.
Although there are plenty of options at the college dining hall, not all of the choices available will support your overall health. If you have pizza and a soft-serve ice cream cone at every meal, for example, you won't have the vitamins and nutrients you need to thrive. Making healthy choices in the dining hall is one of the best ways you can take care of yourself in college, so focus on long-term wellness and on representing key food groups in each meal, rather than buying into fad diets that actually compromise your health.9. Take a Break the Night Before an Exam.
One of the best ways you can take care of yourself is to intentionally schedule time to decompress and rest during a busy season. For example, if you have a big exam Friday morning, consider studying as much as possible in the days leading up to the test, then giving yourself a break on Thursday night before the exam. Scheduling a rest period will encourage you to make effective use of your time earlier in the week and leave you with some free time to relax by watching a favorite movie, getting ice cream with friends, or just heading to sleep early. If you're prone to procrastination, this tip can help you to avoid postponing the work until right before the exam. Similarly, if you're prone to perfectionism, this can help you to put down the study materials and actually prioritize the rest your body and brain need to function effectively.10. Meet a Friend for Coffee.
Investing in community and the health of your relationships is a great way to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. In addition, study breaks are great for your mental health, so this idea is an act of self-care on multiple levels. If you have a friend you've been meaning to catch up with but haven't seen in a while, or if you know someone you'd just like to spend more time with, try texting them to set up a time to catch up over coffee! Allow yourself to be fully present and appreciate both coffee and community, rather than stressing about the semester or studying.11. Run a Load of Laundry.
Sometimes self-care doesn't seem restful in the moment, but it is still worthwhile because it will prevent stress from building up later. Laundry is the perfect example of this kind of self-care. If you're running low on clean clothes, do your future self a favor by starting the laundry now and preventing later urgency. If your room could use a refresh, run a load specifically for your towels, bedsheets, and blankets. If you have an unexpectedly relaxed day, set aside fifteen minutes to fold and put away your clean clothes so that your living space is neater and more enjoyable to live in.12. Pick a Favorite Album and Get Moving.
Sometimes, self-care is as easy as adding a nap to your afternoon schedule. This is especially helpful during hectic weeks such as exam season, when you might not be getting enough sleep at night and could use the extra rest.
Ceanna Hayes Daniels
Ceanna Hayes Daniels is freelance writer and editor. In 2022, she graduated Hillsdale College summa cum laude with a degree in politics. In her free time, she continues to enjoy studying philosophy, political theory, and literature. She and her husband live in Michigan, where the two enjoy perusing bookstores together for new books and old records.
Maximizing Mentorship
April 30, 2024This article emphasizes the significance of college mentorship, advising students to seek mentors who share their values and interests, actively engage in the relationship, and maximize opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The Rise of College eSports
April 29, 2024This article explores the growing trend of eSports at the collegiate level, highlighting its impact on campus culture and student engagement.
Starting a Club or Organization on Campus
April 29, 2024This article encourages students to transform their newfound or existing hobbies into campus communities by starting clubs themselves.
