Self-Care to Do Yourself

By Celeste Parler
Web Content Contributor

College students find all kinds of ways to cut corners and save an extra dollar or two. But college students also forget to take care of themselves while balancing responsibilities. Even amid stressful finals and other life circumstances, always remember to practice self-care.

Self-care is crucial for a few reasons. First, the physical benefits of caring for yourself will manifest after getting into the habit of practicing healthy routines. But also consider the mental benefits of mindfully caring for yourself. Because with the right attitude, self-care can be fun!

Even if you’re not in a pinch, doing self-care yourself can be a rewarding skill to become more self-sufficient. During large transition periods like college, I find that self-sufficiency is increasingly important. No matter where I am, how much money I’m earning or what my goals are I know I can always afford to get things done just the way I like them.

Some of the things on this list I have done for myself since I was in middle school. Others I only began doing when I got to college to become less reliant on other people. Plus, if I can save time and money doing it, why not give it a try?

Of course, this list is not exhaustive because everyone’s self-care needs and desires will be slightly different. But I would encourage everyone to give at least one of these self-care practices a try, even if it doesn’t work out the first time. Remember, practice makes perfect!

Here are four self-care practices that you can do yourself:

Nails

When it comes to nails, I have always leaned toward function over style. Even when it comes to special events (which I’ll also touch on), I mainly try to ensure my nails are presentable and well-kept.

If your preference for nails is low maintenance, try to schedule time on a regular basis to trim and maintain your nails with a buffer and/or polish. If always wearing acrylics, gels or press-on nails is important to you, watching video tutorials and investing in nail-care tools may be worth it in the long run.

Eyebrows

There are several methods to groom your eyebrows, and your method of choice has everything to do with your patience. Waxing your eyebrows will be fast and over with in a few minutes. And waxing strips are cheap and easy to come by at beauty supply stores.

Personally, I prefer tweezing my eyebrows to remove precise hairs. In the last eight years of doing my own eyebrows, I’ve adapted my techniques over time to evolve with current trends. These days I also trim my brow hairs using a spoolie brush and a small pair of scissors before going in with inexpensive tweezers.

Haircare

In my opinion, hair is a crucial aspect of one’s appearance and self-care. A few years ago, I had a hard time putting into words exactly how I wanted my hair cut at salons. I couldn’t trust myself to explain what I wanted or for someone to execute my vision. That’s why I started cutting my own hair during my freshman year of college.

The only hair-cutting tools I use are shears, a rattail comb and metal sectioning clips which can all be purchased from Amazon. In the aftermath of 2020, it’s easier than ever to find videos and tutorials on how to cut your hair at home.

Cutting your own hair is a daunting task. More likely than not, unfortunately, your first self-given haircut may not come out the way you expected. So if you’re willing to take the risk, first try cutting or trimming your bangs or giving yourself a short trim all around.

Special occasions

Whenever you have a big occasion coming up, it feels great to prepare in advance so you can show up as your best self. First, determine how far in advance you want to begin taking extra steps in your day to make yourself feel fabulous for the special occasion. Usually, prepping a week in advance will do the trick.

The key to achieving any desired look is consistency. So plan routines to address your hair, skin and anything else important to you can follow regularly. Go the extra step to take care of yourself in ways that aren’t a part of your usual practices. And when the day comes, take your time to get ready to not miss a step or rush through the process.