Why Prioritizing Yourself After College Can Be Life Changing

Let’s face it, college doesn’t teach you how to prioritize yourself. The structure that is given does not allow students to take care of their minds and bodies. They want students to put school over every area of their life. Think about the times when you tell a professor you will not be in class due to a doctor's appointment, or a family emergency yet they still say that it is not excused and you will be penalized for not being there. That is absurd. You should be able to take care of yourself and your everyday life. In the end, school is a big factor in life, but not life or death.

After four years of giving college your all, you are left with a thin piece of paper and an overwhelming feeling of how to proceed with life ahead. You have most likely put school above your mental health, and physical health neglecting the most important factor of your life, YOU.

Now that the college years are quickly coming to a close, you can focus on bettering yourself in every way to bring out a better version of yourself. There are so many great changes that come with post-grad life and you want to ensure you are helping yourself in any way you can. Here are some ideas of how to make sure you put yourself first and how they can greatly impact your life.

Workout Your Body

We are so blessed with the body that we have that we often forget the capabilities that we possess. Take care of your body because you only get one. Make time every day to do something physical to keep the muscles and blood moving and grooving. Your body craves movement and when you make this part of your routine, you will notice a difference in how you look, think, and act day-to-day.

On top of moving at least once a day, give your body the gift of sunshine. Sit, stand, run, walk, and swim in the warming sun to give your skin the vitamin D it yearns for. The outdoors does so much good for our brains and skin so incorporating it into our everyday lives sets the tone for a positive day.

Be Aware of Your Mental State

Sometimes life truly gets you down. There is no way about it. There can be very painful times that seem to just eat us alive. After college, you become more hyper-aware of your thoughts and feeling. Take note of how your brain is operating and if you need help, get it. I know therapy can be very expensive but there are a lot of assistance programs out there and opportunities for you to get the help you need. If you just need to speak to someone you trust, find a friend or family member you can go to about how you are feeling. Getting ourselves to the right place mentally will greatly impact our day-to-day life and provide some clarity on how to move forward.

Do as much as you can to bring pure joy to your life. You can practice mindfulness or meditation to allow yourself to do affirmations and positive thinking, take a relaxing bath or relax somewhere peaceful, or simply set aside time for a hobby or activity that brings you happiness. Putting these practices into play will help change your mental state.

Schedule Time For Self Care

There is a large push for self-care because people have not discussed it so openly. We live in an era where it is okay to be selfish. If you are doing things that are best for you, then that is all that matters. College does not teach having designated time for self-care because you are constantly surrounded by others and on the go 24/7.

Breaking that crazy cycle is hard to do but so necessary in the post-grad world. Choose what you would like to focus on whether that is a skincare routine, hair routine, workout regime, cooking nutrient-rich foods, building a business, or simply going for a walk, anything you do to take care of YOU is self-care. Give yourself the time you deserve. We often pour so much energy and time into other people without realizing that we are letting ourselves drain to 0. You wouldn’t let your phone battery die, so why should you let your own battery drain?

Put time down every day to give yourself the care you need. And remember, you can always change it up and focus on different aspects of your life for self-care. It is not a sprint. It is a marathon. Take care of yourself.

Learn To Say No

This one is a toughie. I had the mentality of saying yes to everything because I wanted to experience as much as I could without thinking about what it was doing to me. I was wearing myself so thin but I did not realize it at the moment.

College teaches you to say yes to everything you can. Say yes to every opportunity, social gathering, new event, friend, and so on. We were constantly saying yes so much that we didn’t realize how draining the situations were. It is okay not to take opportunities if you feel they will not be right for you. It is okay to miss a social gathering. I promise you will not miss out on anything truly important. If you feel like staying at home, then do it.

Learning to say no is also an important skill to develop, as it allows us to set boundaries and prioritize our own needs. Boundaries become a very important part of life that we seem to forget about. Post-grad life is all about decisions and saying no to things can make a difference in how you go about your day.

Seek New Experiences

Seeking out new experiences and opportunities can be a great way to continue learning and growing after college. This can include trying a new hobby or activity, traveling to a new place, or pursuing a new career path. Make it a point to do one new thing a month to keep the spark alive in your life. Try some activities by yourself and others with friends and family. Embracing new experiences can help us discover new passions and create a fulfilling life beyond college

Remember, college is just one chapter in life, and there is so much more to explore and experience beyond it. Prioritizing oneself may require some effort and self-reflection, but it is worth it in the end for a fulfilling and balanced life.