The broader question for the type-A personal-
monthly and so on. There are plenty of fluffy
ities like me is – at what point are we going to
articles who will tell you how to take care of
call time on ourselves? On our expectations?
yourself – this isn’t one of them.
On our snap judgements? On overworking ourselves to prove what we fundamentally
• Try grabbing a journal – Yes, I am aware
know – that we are already enough? Because
that journaling has become trendy (Kikki.
whether or not you care to admit it, that’s true.
K I’m looking at you darl) but it is a way to
The very fact that you have dreams in your
vent your feelings to something that cannot
head, goals to achieve, blood in your veins,
retaliate. It feels weird, but if done consistent-
air in your lungs and hopefully somewhere
ly, it may help you find the root causes of any
warm to come home to at night is indicative
emotional difficulty and not the symptoms.
of that. Your value isn’t something that can be measured, graphed, compared and discarded
• Everyone’s pathway is different to yours
because you didn’t measure up in your own
– This idea that you must succeed at the
mind. You had it before the exam stress, the
highest level is an idea internalised in the
drinks at the bar on your Instagram story, the
education system as a whole. Work hard, recite
times you wish things were different.
information, get a good set of grades, receive praise. Rinse and repeat. If you get into law
If you relate to this article, a few things that I
school, it’s pretty clear that your secondary or
wish I knew earlier:
undergraduate results have got you there. The potential danger lies with placing expectations
Placing greater importance on my own wellbe-
on oneself based on the idea that what worked
ing – There is a saying that says ‘Be wary of a
once will work again. Who you were at one
naked person when they offer you a shirt’. You
point in time is not the same person you
can only contribute as much as you’re willing
are now. I know that 18-year old Alexander
to give, so giving to yourself begins a virtu-
wouldn’t recognise me if we met at Rundle
ous cycle. Self-care is as varied as the people
Mall.
who practice it, so find a few little things that bring joy and implement them daily, weekly,
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