My Self-Care Routine as a Full-Time College Student

It's challenging to find time every day to do my self-care routine as a working, full-time college student. I fit some of it in daily, like trying to sleep early enough or ensuring I give myself some downtime. However, that won't suffice in the long run - trust me, I tried. So, I try to block out a few hours once a week to do my entire routine.

I typically choose Sunday as my "get it together" day. I try to do my self-care routine, homework, and any other chores I need to finish that I let slip by throughout the week. Although I try to relax with my self-care routine, as I've mentioned in my Self-Care isn't Selfish: What is Self-Care & Why it's Important post, sometimes self-care is about doing the things that cause you stress and anxiety due to postponing them constantly.

I used to avoid the things that were stressing me out in my routine because I didn't think that was self-care. But are you truly taking care of yourself if you're letting yourself have looming stress while trying to do what's best for you? You wouldn't let a child sit with their anxieties about something. Instead, you would help them work through whatever was causing them to feel that way. So, why don't we do that for ourselves?

So, here's my Sunday self-care routine

• A slow morning includes waking up naturally, doing everything slower to be in the moment, and enjoying morning coffee while catching up on a TV show.

• If I have homework, I do that before anything else in my self-care routine.

• If I don't have any homework to finish - which rarely happens - I do whatever I find fun and relaxing. That may involve a day of binge-watching, hanging out with my friends or family, or napping.

• Change my sheets, make my bed, and clean my room.

• Bubble bath with lavender essential oils, a face mask, and a good book. I'm reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and it's fantastic.

• Prepare for my Monday, such as making my lunch, gathering my snacks, setting out my clothes, planning my week, and cleaning my glasses and phone.

• In bed by 9:30 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. at the latest.

I've found this great graphic by The Blissful Mind, and I thought you would all appreciate it.

Photo Source via The Blissful Mind

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That's my self-care routine in a nutshell. Doing all those things in a day, especially on Sunday, centers me for the week ahead, knowing I have myself and life (somewhat) in order.

What does your self-care routine look like? I would love to hear different ideas.