I used to pull “all-nighters” in college. I don't know if that's still what they call them, but staying up all night to get a big paper done - usually because I procrastinated and didn't manage my time well - happened frequently.
I even stayed up all night one time writing a paper about procrastination! Each time I pulled an all-nighter, I vowed never to do it again. Why? Because it's hard on the body and made me feel awful for at least several days afterward.
Why am I telling you this? Because I think it's a great example of why we need to take care of ourselves. Sure, you can push yourself and your body in ways now that only get harder when you're older. You can skip meals, skimp on sleep, eat junk food, and neglect your needs to make it through a semester.
I have to chuckle when my students tell me they'll start practicing self-care once they graduate and have more time. But will you have more time really? It's easy to fall into the habit of telling yourself: I'll [ fill in blank ] once [ fill in blank ] happens.
The question to consider is whether the toll your daily choices take on your body (and mind) is worth it.
Your education is important. As TRIO students, we need you to succeed and want you to discover your talents and gifts so you can share them with the world. We need your voices. Desperately. TRIO exists because of the need to support students like yourself.
What's challenging is figuring out how to do it all when you really can't do it all. How do you balance school with work and family and time to take care of yourself? That's the million-dollar question our 365 Mindful Days community is here to discover the answer to together.
It's not easy (for sure), and it looks different for each person. We all have to make hard choices, and we can't physically do it all because it will take a toll.
The truth is, if you don't figure out how to care for yourself, you won't get to do all the fantastic things you want. Or at least you won't be able to do them how you want to - because your body will tell you (in direct and subtle ways) that it's simply too much.
We focus on building habits that will become your foundation of well-being. With a strong foundation, more things become possible. With a strong foundation, you can do more because you feel better. You feel more energized, it's easier to focus, and you can do your best work.
Figuring out what you need to thrive is the first step. Then, it becomes more about making small daily choices to support your well-being. It's not about being perfect or doing everything all the time, but it is about making what are sometimes hard decisions so you can prioritize yourself and your needs.
Taking care is a daily practice that we need to practice daily.
It's always challenging to start making those daily choices. But you have to start. I emphasize the word small because you don't need to overhaul your entire life to start taking better care of yourself. You can start doing small things that add up over time, and ultimately, have a significant impact.
If you missed the Summer Success Program, you're in luck !! because we'll be hosting another live version this fall. Mark your calendar for September 9th and join us! It's always easier to start implementing changes like these with support from your fellow TRIO students with similar goals. ✨
