(Posted December 2, 2016)

Skukura Woods, assistant director of the Office of Diversity.
Skukura Woods, assistant director of the Office of Diversity.

It can be a challenge to make self-care a priority with finals and the holidays approaching fast. On Nov. 29, Skukura Woods, assistant director in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a lecture covering the importance of self-care, how it can be achieved and how it helps in every aspect of our lives.

Self-care is the practice of making sure that all of your needs are met. It can be something simple like taking a bath at the end of a long day, but the important thing is that you acknowledge your emotions. Woods suggests turning off your phone when practicing self-care. Being constantly connected with the world around us is a blessing and a curse. Social media can act like a vortex; it’s easy to lose track of everything by scrolling through Facebook, but it can keep us from focusing on our own thoughts and feelings.  

Meditation is a very popular form of self-care because it applies itself easily to everyday situations. You can meditate by taking deep breaths, going for a walk, or even by sitting comfortably and trying to clear your mind. Meditation can be a great way to get in touch with your emotional side by allowing you to understand how you feel and why you feel that way.

When you take proper care of your mind, it manifests in your relationships with those around you. Woods explains, “it’s hard to maintain healthy relationships without practicing self-care. When you treat yourself well and recognize your emotions it becomes easier to empathize with others.”

Having an awareness of your emotions and those of your family and friends gives you a solid foundation for problem-solving. Woods says, “when we let ourselves get angry at someone we give that person power over us.” Anger is a surface emotion, and there is often an underlying cause that can’t be fixed by taking out that frustration on others. Instead, understand that some things are out of your control, so focus on your own well-being rather than searching for a solution from someone who may not be able to provide one.

The key word in self-care is “self.” It is a necessity, and not something to feel guilty about or selfish for practicing. Treating yourself with kindness has cascading effects. During this busy time of year, the best gift you can give yourself and your loved ones is the gift of positivity.

Laura Snyder ’19, Juniata Online Journalist

Our readers respond...

Be the first to provide a response.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.