It’s that dreaded time of the year again: it is always dark, the weather is getting colder, and exams are approaching. Along with this comes annoying tasks such as bringing out your winter coat, getting your car tires changed, and having a constant battle about the thermostat with those you live with (or if you are like me, literally fighting myself about window open versus window closed). Not to mention that tedious task of finally catching up on your readings, writing papers, and preparing summaries. While it is probably expected that we start feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and exhausted, there is an added complexity to the seasonal feels this year – the pandemic.
I am no expert on self-care strategies as I find myself creating a plan, following it for a while but then losing track of it along the way, then seeing the need to start over. Everyone’s wellness journey is different but I hope the recommendations below will spark an interest within you to start adding things to your routine that will add to your mental and physical wellbeing.
Time Blocking
Time blocking is essentially planning our every hour of your day and dedicating each “block” of time for a specific task. Just like you likely added your classes and club meetings to iCal or Google Calendar, time blocking includes scheduling times for eating, exercising, reading, walking and pretty much every other task you may have.
The purpose of this strategy is to provide yourself with structure to focus only on the task which you have allocated the block of time for. By creating a weekly schedule in which you can visualize what you will be doing at any given hour, you can protect yourself from getting distracted, improve your focus and also allow yourself to look forward to your fun or relaxing blocks of time. I think this is especially helpful this semester as with virtual classes, it is difficult to “turn off” our study mode and time blocking has helped me set aside time to do things that are good for me and I enjoy, while providing plenty of scheduled time for studying.
Yoga
When first introduced to yoga, I was very skeptical about its claimed effectiveness related to stress reduction. However, I quickly learned that having a regular yoga practice is effective in providing you a balanced body and mind. Currently, most Yoga studios are closed due to the pandemic but many are offering virtual memberships for online classes. If you have never tried yoga before, there is truly no better place than to try it for the first time in the comfort of your own home. As a student, I can personally confirm that practicing regularly helps reduce stress, improve posture and currently helps me not feel like an absolute potato after sitting at my desk for hours on end. I encourage you to try it, below are some places to get started.
Student budget friendly (free) YouTube Yogis:
- Yoga With Tim
- BrettLarkinYoga
Low-cost virtual classes:
- @studiobalanceinc: $10/class
- @modoyoga: currently offering a 2-week free trial for virtual classes
- @dedica: $18/class
Guided Meditation
Meditation is a sacred practice that has been around for thousands of years. Prior to practicing it, I personally thought that it was fake or it wouldn’t work to actually provide mental clarity, relaxation and stress relief. As a student, I personally enjoy guided meditations because it allows my mind to stay focused on creating a sense of calm, peace and balance through breathing and visualization.
If you don’t know where to start, try downloading the Waking Up app. It is available on the Apple Store and Google Play. This app offers a variety of audio courses, including their introductory course provides a really good insight on what meditation is, and how you can start your practice. While it is subscription based, after the free trial, you can request a free subscription on the basis that you are a student as the founder’s goal is to make the app accessible for all!
Guided meditation can also become part of your morning/evening rituals as it can set the tone for your day, or provide some sort of closure regarding your day prior to resting your body and mind for the night. I have personally incorporated listening to The Morning Ritual by Lilly Balch during my morning walks with my dog or prior to starting my yoga class. The episodes are mostly under 15 minutes, released daily and generally provide a relaxing and mindful guided meditation experience. This podcast is available on Spotify and the Apple Podcasts app.
Osgoode’s Wellness Week, hosted by the Legal and Literary Society, is November 9 to 13. Keep an eye out on your inboxes and social channels for an activity-packed schedule and more wellness tips!