One of the most important things I've learnt is the importance of self-care in stressful times like finals, when applying for lab positions/ jobs, trying to secure references etc.- the list goes onnnn.
If I could share a message with undergraduate students, it would be this:
Self-care is a productive use of your time. It may be difficult to carve out large blocks of time during exams, and that is okay. It doesn't have to be grand gestures or fancy/ expensive/ instagramable activities. Sometimes self-care looks like a nap or listening to your favorite song on repeat for 20 minutes or staring at a wall and zoning out for a bit, or a morning ritual that you do exclusively for you. The best part is that YOU get to decide what YOU need to take care of YOU. Ultimately, it's about giving yourself those moments of acknowledging that you are the most important and irreplaceable part of your life, and you deserve the same kind of care and dedication you put into everything else you do ❤️
Sincerely,
Sadia (IG: @leo_floofen)
Yes! The notion that self-care is counterintuitive or a waste of time needs to go!