I am still struggling to grasp the concept of time — it seems to fly by incredibly fast. Each day is a new day that I either missed or fully utilized. I am pleased and delighted on some days, content on others, depressed, numb, and expressionless on others. I can’t help but wonder how we manage all of these emotions in a single day. Taking time out of your day to understand your emotions might be beneficial when it comes to appreciating your memories and experiences. I’ve experienced a lot of emotions over the last few years, especially due to the pandemic. Beginning my early twenties during a pandemic seemed hopeless as we all were in lockdown, but I also sensed there was so much more to the world than I realized.
Although not every day is perfect, dedicating time to oneself without work, school, noise, or mess can help you grow and heal. Taking the time to sit on the couch and binge an old Netflix series may be considered a waste of time by some, but for me, it is healing and brings me joy. I can sit down and watch a TV series without having to care about anything else at that moment. Taking time out of my day to dye my hair a different color every couple of months or do any touch-ups is time for me to heal and part of my self-care routine.
It is crucial to be able to look after oneself because we don’t always recognize ourselves as depressed or anxious. Not everyone is aware of how our mental health affects us — how much stress school and work cause, how much anxiety we experience as a first-generation student who has only completed high school and is the only one in the family who has attended college or university, or even how much pressure we can put on ourselves to achieve our family’s dreams. This is why we must look after ourselves in some way. Therapy isn’t the only method to take care of oneself, whether one seeks it or not. If you can find the time to prioritize your mental health your experience will be more rewarding. You may find the right balance between yourself and your surroundings.
Over the years, I’ve looked for and participated in a variety of things that make me happy, comfortable with my life, and feel like I’ve progressed as a person. It took time to figure it out, and it will continue to take time. Still, I’ve concluded that getting ready, visiting museums, and viewing exhibits with my friends makes me happy. Simply driving with my friends, listening to music, sitting at a park with my dog or friends makes me happy, and just being in the car with my window down while feeling the breeze and seeing how green and beautiful my city is makes me happy. Going to cafes, studying for a few hours, drinking, and eating with friends brightens my week. I adore studying in cafes and having the opportunity to do so once a week on a scheduled day when I don’t have any work or school obligations. Also having the chance to just hang out with my friends while studying or shopping and then going out to eat makes me happy.
Taking the time and creating space for oneself or friends can be extremely beneficial to recover from all the work we undertake daily. We, as college students, are usually doing both, so taking a break from school and work is necessary to rejuvenate ourselves. Allowing time away from work and stress to engage in a hobby can be really beneficial. Just remember, that no matter how quickly time passes, it is always on your side, and that to fully live is to truly have time to learn and rest. No matter what self-care method is used, remember that time is your self-time.
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Jossely, a graduate from Pasadena High school, class of 2019, is currently attending the California State University of Los Angeles (Let’s go, Golden Eagles!). She is a first-generation college student majoring in Liberal Studies in hopes of one day becoming an elementary school teacher. In the future, she aspires to get a dual Masters and Credentials in Education. Jossely’s first connection to CAP was through SAT Prep, and after experiencing how loving and kind the program was, she continued attending as they helped students with college and financial aid applications. She is now passionate and honored to serve on the Student Advisory Council to help students the same way she received help back in high school.