“I think I deserve something beautiful.” | personal care in the 21st century

shirley yao
Feb 10, 2020
4 min read

Updated: Feb 13, 2020

Self-care (noun):

the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress. (oxford.com)

The world has changed. Things develop at such a fast-pace that makes it hard for us to comprehend whatever is going on because everything is constantly changing.

Living in such a world is hard; being a college student is hard, not to mention if you are dealing with both simultaneously. We are constantly being reminded of the high expectations we and others put on ourselves. And the pressure that results from them can be detrimental to our health. So many aspects of our lives are stressful—academics, internships, careers, social life, peer pressure, self-image, etc.

Burnouts are common, and self-doubts keep on emerging. Mental health issues are increasingly popular among teens. People need to be taking care of themselves both physically and mentally. Happiness never just comes from the external successes we have but also the internal satisfaction we experience with a healthy mental state.

Having an open mind and learning to manage our time accordingly can be very helpful in balancing our lives. As a college student myself currently in the middle of midterm season, there are a few personal things I turn to when I’m feeling down. These things are rather specific activities I like to do. We all need time to take breaks, and it is exactly in those breaks can we find little moments of happiness.

1. Workout

I like to try to go to the gym at least three times a week. Sweating has proven to be an efficient way to detox and relieve the body. In working out, we can be free of everything else, running away from all the troubles. We feel alive after working out.

So go find your way of working out. Go have a night run. Bike around the beautiful street of Santa Monica. Dance your soul out at a studio. Hike up the “Hollywood” sign. Try rock climbing. Experience how tennis is like.

There are so many ways of working out for you to test and try. Not only does it relieve stress with all the sweats, but it also gives you the opportunity to try new things, and who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love with one of them.

2. Face Masks

Skincare is one good aspect of self-care. When we care for our skins, we are looking out for ourselves in that not only are we giving our skin a break, we are giving ourselves time to chill. The cold feelings we get when we put on the sheet masks can throw all the stress away and tranquil us in the state of relaxation.

this picture is taken from when my roommates and I had a little self-care session and all did face masks ;)

There are so many types of masks to choose from, whether it’s for hydration, enrichment, or brightening. Face masks are not just designed for girls, guys can totally have them, too, for various purposes. Some of my favorite masks are Fresh: Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask and Vital Hydration Solution.

3. Sink with Nature

Human beings tend to be ignorant of the gorgeous nature around us. We are not used to embracing the air, the sky, the wind, and the trees. These elements form such beautiful scenes for us to see and enjoy.

A big part of self-care is to sit down, relax, and view beautiful things. This state of mind will likely get rid of all the negative thoughts and bad emotions we were feeling. So take the time to appreciate the things around us. The beautiful nature that co-exists with us on this Earth. Take a moment for yourself and feel them, with your body and mind, and you’ll feel so much better about life.

4. Eat, Sleep, Love

The famous movie Eat, Pray, Love depicts a story of self-discovery. Through traveling did the main character find the true meaning of life. Similarly, we can take ourselves through simple things—eat, sleep, and love.

Eating fulfills the stomach. The satisfaction we gain from having a food baby is indescribably tremendous. Eating is more than a survival need. We crave for certain things, and having those things can remarkably comfort us.

Having good nights of sleep is so crucial. Only by having a good night of sleep can we have a healthy body and the attention span needed to focus on certain things.

And most importantly, be loving—loving the people around us who love us, and loving our current selves. Embrace who you are, and love yourself for who you are. Love others, and you’ll be loved. Self-care rests itself on love. Only by loving yourself can you truly take care of yourself. So start loving.

In an ever-changing world, humans are prone to constant pressure and doubts. We care too much about how we do and what others think of us, but it is important to realize that we only have to care about ourselves because ultimately, others don’t care about us.

In the end, I want to share some lyrics from a song that is featured in the movie Eat, Pray, Love called “Better Days” by Eddie Vedder.