First Year Package

ARTS & LIFE 23
The Unromanticized
Reality of Self-Care
Zarin Tasnim,
Arts & Life Editor
Stress can be defined in many different
ways. For the purpose of this article, I will
define stress as the body’s response to a real or
imagined situation. For our ancestors, a defence
mechanism used for survival; for university students,
a never ending battle; for those starting
yet another year at UTSC, stress is welcomed
as an old friend; for others that are just starting
university, it’s a whole new ball game. The truth
is, stress lurks in every corner of our lives; from
relationships to academics, it consumes us all.
Sometimes, stress can be a good thing: it can
help motivate us to finish studying for that upcoming
exam, or finally gather up the courage to
ask that cute person sitting next to you in lecture
to lunch; however, other times, one’s stress can
get out of control, which can be an overall negative
and overwhelming experience.
It’s important to remember that stress
results from a reaction to a scenario and that,
most times, it has more to do with us and the
stories we make up about a situation than anything
else. Stress can result from virtually every
aspect of life, and how we perceive and handle
it varies from one person to another. For most,
there are biological mechanisms that we can
rely on to mediate high levels of stress; however,
those suffering from mental health issues
like depression or anxiety lack these processes
in their bodies to help them control stress. In that
situation, it’s best to seek out help from a counsellor
or a health professional. Although external
help is an option, many have successfully taken
it upon themselves to add in certain activities in
their daily schedule to keep stress levels at bay.
It all starts with self-care. As I define it,
self-care is whatever it is that allows your temporary
disengagement from the worries you may
be facing in life. For university students, juggling
coursework, extracurriculars, and a social life
leaves little room to relax. It’s difficult to set aside
personal time to wind down. Once stress builds
up, some experience burnouts -- instances in
which they are unable to get back to work for a
long time.
“For me, self-care is a way to refresh
myself and relieve general anxieties. Stresses
add up, and it’s a basic reaction, whether real
or imagined. Making time for myself is first and
foremost for self-care,” says fifth-year neuroscience
and studio student Chantal Nabert.
Unfortunately, the positive effects of
self-care can be overshadowed by the problems
students face when catering to what they need
both physically and mentally. One of the issues
is the stigma behind the idea of self-care itself.
For university students, there is an expectation
to always work towards a bigger and better goal.
For some, success may come at the price of stable
mental health. Many times, it seems that the
notion of setting aside time to wind down gets in
the way of accomplishment.
Even though self-care is meant to be
designed differently for everyone, just like any
good thing out there, it has turned into a franchise.
There’s pressure to partake in expensive
getaways, manicures, or spa care. Additionally,
booking sessions with a therapist or seeking out
other health professionals to gain access to that
care can be difficult for university students.
“I always strive to do things I love.
Whether it’s reading a good book or taking photos.
These are a few things I love doing, and
taking proper care of myself means doing things
that interest me in a whole new level. That is
self-care, because I am physically, emotionally
and mentally doing things I love,” says third-year
health science student Piyal Sarkar.
It’s important to understand that selfcare
can be as simple as a quick jog around the
neighbourhood or even catching up on your favourite
shows. Remember, this is time for yourself,
so you define how you’d like to spend it.
UTSC has several departments that
can provide free services that you can check out
the next time you need access to resources for
stress-management. The Health and Wellness
Centre, located in the Student Centre, offer
counselling sessions as well as other medical
services. Accessibility and Academic Advising
provide information about courses and resources
available for those struggling with school
work. Finally, the Womyn and Trans* Centre has
a decompression space and provides sanitary
pads, condoms, and other information surrounding
your spiritual, physical, and mental health.
With the school year starting, the
anticipation of coursework and grades can
be overwhelming. Taking time for yourself to
breath and relax before pushing yourself to
meet deadlines is more than okay. The idea
of self-care should be designed based on
what gives you that temporary relief. So, when
you’re listing materials to get come fall semester,
make sure you pencil in a little time to sit
back, relax, and practice self-care. Your body
will thank you for it.
www. the-underground.ca AUGUST 22 - OCTOBER 5, 2016
VOLUME 36, ISSUE 01