Good morning, Eagles, and welcome to a brand-new semester here at FGCU! While some of us are finishing up our freshman year, others are preparing to graduate. Regardless, there is one thing all of us students have in common. We all have to keep ourselves healthy and pay attention to our mental wellness. In today’s world, mental health is more important than ever before.

One healthy habit is to treat yourself. Students who push themselves to the brink of exhaustion and crash is a tale as old as time. Many argue that burnout is the number one cause of a student’s decline in not only academic performance but also social, physical and mental wellness.

Also, too much work and not enough relaxation cause declines in motivation among students. You can remedy this by treating yourself. Treating yourself can present itself differently from person to person but it all boils down to doing something you like.

For example, after finishing some grueling math homework, you could reward yourself by going out to eat or maybe buying something off your wish list.

You can treat yourself with big or small rewards. Let’s say you achieved something great such as excelling on a final exam. Then, one could treat themselves to a bigger reward. Perhaps a vacation, or simply going to an event or party with friends and family. This would give time to recharge and have the energy to do other great things.

Mental health is also reliant on your physical and social health. Eating well and getting an adequate amount of quality sleep will help with self-esteem. Talking to new people and making connections with others not only broadens your perspective on the world but also provides you with the opportunity to form new relationships with others. Some of these relationships may stay with you forever.

In short, self-care is how we students can manage college effectively and healthily. Prioritizing one’s mental, physical, and social health is the key to achieving true self-care standards that would not only improve your time on campus but also improve your personal character later in life.