Self-care is not what you think it is.
If you were to open Instagram right now, it wouldn’t take long to find a pretty graphic telling you to take care of yourself. When you see these toxic positivity posts, what do you think self-care means?
From my personal observations, when people think of self-care, they usually think of taking a break.
They think to take care of themselves they must stop working on what is stressing them out and do something fun. Eating junk food, spending money, going shopping, watching movies – the list of things we’ve done in the name of self-care goes on and on.
I have personally watched people practice these self-care methods, pushing off important responsibilities in the process. This ultimately led to two or three rough weeks instead of one rough night of work. I have also put a pause on important responsibilities in the name of self-care, causing myself multiple days of sleep deprivation.
I am a junior, and as editor-in-chief of The Shield, I hear from hundreds of students each week. What I have seen and experienced is that October and November are typically the height of college student stress. We are all stressed with midterms, exams, projects, work and heightened social activity.
For many, it may be the first time in the academic year that success is dependent upon effective time management.
I am a full-time student, I run a full-time business with over thirty employees, I am extremely involved in my church and I have a very busy social life.
My time has been stretched thin these last two years, and what I have learned is that my time is not just thin, it is precious. Every moment of every day is a gift.
Your life is an accumulation of how you spend your time. True self-care is time management.
I manage my time because I recognize the value of my time. When I didn’t know my self-worth, my time was managing me, and I was miserable.
Time management does not mean having no time for fun. It does not mean removing flexibility. It also does not mean leaving responsibilities incomplete.
It means designing the life you truly desire.
To manage your time, you have to know yourself better than anyone, and you have to value yourself. Self-care is valuing yourself enough to intentionally make your life better.
The deepest level of self-care you can practice is managing your time.
Each day I ask myself a series of intentional questions. I ask myself, “Where do I want to be in a week? A month? A year? How do I get there without losing myself? How are my priorities and desires fitting into my current schedule? How do I make my life and those around me better?”
The truth is there are some things in our life we just can’t change. You can’t change your classes’ syllabus, but you can change the way you balance your stresses.
One of my favorite books about time management is “Make Time” by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky. Knapp said, “You only waste time if you’re not intentional about how you spend it.”
Making your life better means completing your work, studying to get good grades, fulfilling responsibilities, taking a shower, eating, sleeping and drinking water. Making your life better also means spending time with friends, attending events, watching movies and doing what brings you joy.
Self-care is managing your time to make room for both.
You are valuable, so it is time you start treating your time like someone who knows their value. The life you desire depends on it.
“Carving out Time” is designed to help you realize the value of your time, what you want in your life and ultimately, how to carve the life you desire.
Shelby Clark, Editor-in-Chief of The Shield
BY ALYSSA DEWIG, BRYCE WEST and IAN YOUNG
Iruoghene Oruahwo senior electrical engineering major
“If you struggle with time management, definitely have a schedule planned out of what you want to do at certain times.”
“I’d say get a planner. Just planning at least a week ahead. Also, putting more priority to school.”
“I feel like actually caring about it is a big difference instead of being like, ‘oh, that doesn’t matter.’ Any time you’re not doing anything, study.”
“Make time for your health before you make time for work, because once you’re relaxed, everything is much easier to get done.”
“A dry-erase calendar and planner saved my life planning everything out week by week. I also plan out my due dates for the entire class based off of the syllabus on an Excel spreadsheet.”
“Just make sure to never get behind because then it’s just a game of trying to catch up, and it’s a cycle.”
Art Club is a student organization on campus allowing students to create art with others. Art Club activities include making art, playing games and visiting art museums. Art Club meets at 4:30 p.m. every Wednesday. “I just like being in a group of people that are similar to me, and just expressing artsy feelings,” said Jade Young, Art Club co-president. Young said being in an organization helps her manage her stress and keeps her from sitting at home depressed. Mikayla Satterfield, sophomore illustration major, is an Art Club member. She said she thinks it is important to make time to be in fun extracurricular activities. Satterfield said, “I try to make sure I get all of my work done on time. So then, I don’t have to spend time after class working on it, and I have time to do extracurricular things.”
The Outdoor Adventure Program is an organization hosted by the Recreation, Wellness and Fitness Center that is designed for students to explore the outdoors and discover the benefits of being outside. The group takes a variety of trips that feature hiking, whitewater rafting and exploring nature. Any student is welcome to sign up for an outdoor trip. Brooke Bassler, junior chemistry major, is a part of the Outdoor Adventure Program. She said it can be hard to balance extracurricular activities on top of school. “I think it’s about finding the clubs you truly enjoy and things you love to do,” Bassler said. “I just prioritize certain things depending on upcoming events and or tests. Sometimes that means sacrificing sleep, but that’s how it goes in college.”
Table Top Club is a student organization that plays a variety of table-top games such as board games, Dungeons and Dragons and card games. Solstice Sylla, Table Top Club president, said their meeting schedule is very flexible. “I ask everybody when they are free, and I schedule times and pop in whenever I can,” she said. Table Top Club also plans club events throughout the semester such as game nights and a costume party. Sylla said you should not plan your courses around your clubs. “No matter what your club is like, classes take priority,” she said. Nathan Ely, freshman computer science major, said he joined Table Top Club at the Student Involvement Fair in September. Ely said, “Now, I get involved with the club whenever I can.”
BY CASEY CLARK Staff Copy Editor
It’s no secret nursing is considered one of the hardest and most timedemanding undergraduate majors. Entering my junior year of nursing school, I never struggled with anxiety. Now, it’s hard to imagine my life without it.
Between the tough classes, clinical schedules and overwhelming amounts of studying, I have struggled to balance my academic responsibilities and life outside of school.
Not to mention, I am now partially responsible for other peoples’ lives. This introduces a whole new level of stress I never truly considered before nursing school.
My whole life spiraled into sleepless nights because I couldn’t stop thinking of sleep as a waste of my time. I was genuinely paranoid I was going to fail because I was not
studying or working for a complete 24-hour period.
I felt guilty and stressed anytime I did something unrelated to school. I could not stop thinking about the exams or assignments hanging over my head and could hardly enjoy myself when doing things I used to love.
I questioned if I chose the right major because I was constantly anxious and overwhelmed. These feelings were relentless.
The truth is, I enjoy everything I learn, and I love working in a hospital. I just do not enjoy missing out on all the other parts of my life.
When I came to this conclusion, I realized I had to make some changes. I had to prioritize both my responsibilities and the things that bring me joy.
I promised myself I would do one fun thing a day. Whether it be getting coffee with friends or going out with
my family, I was determined to do something I enjoyed every day.
I also made up my mind that if I didn’t get to do something fun, I would do something relaxing. Currently, my relaxing activity is watching an episode of my favorite comfort show, “Gilmore Girls.”
Sometimes, I go a little crazy and do both a fun and relaxing activity. It simply depends on how much work I have to complete.
To ensure I actually get to do something of my choosing, I make a list in my planner and set out exactly what I want to get done before I take a break.
The break encourages me to finish the work I need to do beforehand. I have found I am more motivated and less stressed about the amount of work I have.
I still have days where I’m unable to find time to do something relaxing or fun, and I still have days where I am
unbelievably stressed. However, they are fewer and farther between.
The biggest lesson I have learned since starting nursing school is life will always throw big, stressful curveballs our way. We can’t always hit a home run, but the memory of the game and the people who make it worth playing mean more than the score at the end.
Take time for yourself and for the people who mean the most to you. Finish your work at a level where you feel pleased with yourself, but make sure you have enough time for the other things in your life.
You should never feel guilty for taking part in another one of your passions. Don’t let your mind trick you into thinking school is the only part of your life.
In nursing school, we learned a person is made up of the mind, body and spirit. Make sure you take care of all three.
As Halloween rolls around, it’s the perfect time to hunker down and watch some scary movies. Whether it has gore, paranormal activity or even some morbid laughs, spooky films are an essential part of the season. Here is a selection of incredible horror flicks that will have you screaming with delight.
“The Thing” (1982)
On an isolated arctic base miles away from civilization, a small group of researchers encounter a discovery that threatens all life on Earth. Director John Carpenter’s classic excels in practical monster effects that are as horrifyingly visceral as they were when it was first released. If you can’t trust anyone to be who they say they are, can you even trust yourself?
“Pulse” (2001)
Strange occurrences begin to happen in Tokyo as people disappear after witnessing weird messages and videos on the internet. “Pulse” cements itself as a classic horror film for pairing its ghost story with the loneliness that comes with spending time on the internet. Without any jumpscares, it effectively frightens viewers with silent frames of upsetting imagery on Lo-Fi computer monitors.
“Shaun of the Dead” (2004) Shaun (Simon Pegg) is an aimless 20-something-year-old man who can barely get through each day without screwing up his relationships. When a zombie outbreak threatens the people close to him, he has to take control of his life to save the day. With a perfect mix of humor, horror and heart,
director Edgar Wright’s breakout film is still a bloody good time.
“Funny Games” (1997)
This Austrian thriller is best experienced by going into it blind. It challenges viewers on their relationship with horror films and the desire to watch violent acts. This movie is not for the faint of heart, but “Funny Games” is a must-watch for horror fans and those who want a psychologically bone-chilling experience.
“Noroi: The Curse” (2005)
In “Noroi: The Curse,” what begins as a mild supernatural investigation tape soon spirals into an eerie found-footage display of horrific hauntings. The realistic nature of the documentary format builds a narrative that slowly escalates into one of the most disturbing endings in horror history.
“ParaNorman” (2012)
This stop-motion animated horror comes from LAIKA Studios, the studio behind the movie “Coraline.”
While not as revered, “ParaNorman” is a ghoulishly fun film about Norman (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a kid who can see ghosts and is tasked with preventing zombies from destroying his hometown. With a great ensemble of funny characters and a heartfelt message about being different, “ParaNorman” deserves more attention.
“The Vast of Night” (2019)
While not an outright scary film, “The Vast of Night” is a spooky slow-burn thriller about two teenagers chasing an alien abduction story in their small town during a 1950s summer. The film is full of impressive long takes. The actor’s believable performances add
to an eerie atmosphere that will stick with you long after the film is over.
“Evil Dead II” (1987)
When Ash (Bruce Campbell) and his girlfriend, Linda (Denise Bixler), visit an abandoned cabin for a getaway, they accidentally unleash an ancient evil that possesses humans. This movie is essentially the “Looney Tunes” of horror films with a frightening amount of slapstick comedy. There is an absurd amount of blood, a dismembered hand that moves on its own and demonic presences that won’t stop harassing the main characters. You don’t need to worry about watching the previous Evil Dead film before viewing this gore-filled experience that will have you hollering with laughter.
Movie photos courtesy of (left to right) Universal Pictures, Daiei Eiga, Universal Pictures, Xanadeux, GED Cinema, Renaissance Pictures and Focus Features.
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BY ELIZABETH HARRIS Cartoonist
