Happy week six of classes and mid-February, Pioneers! We sincerely hope that this semester has been going well for you. This time of year can be really stressful with midterms looming and seasonal depression (gotta love the one mid-60s day, though!) — all on top of other stressors. To say that college is a lot would be an understatement, but we are here to let you know that you are strong, and we want to remind you to take care of yourself.

You are probably tired of us preaching the term “self-care,” but it is arguably the most important part of life.  You should want to strive to be the best version of yourself, even if you do not know what that is yet — like most of us. College makes it too easy to put self-care on the back burner. 

The good news? You can change this, but it is going to take consistent work. While you may not think it is possible to put one more thing on your plate, practicing self-care will make it easier to handle that long to-do list.

Exercising regularly is one thing that can benefit all of us. It may seem hard to go outside and go on a run with the weather constantly changing, but exercising  helps release endorphins and dopamine in your brain which often leads to a better mood. 

A simple solution to get you started could be taking the stairs to get to class instead of waiting for the elevator or leaving a little bit earlier for class and going for a walk.  Adequate rest (eight hours of sleep) will also do wonders for your ability to work out and take care of your health.

Another important factor of self-care is eating properly, and it is forgotten about too often. Take advantage of the Pioneer Pantry and their fresh food pop-up events. Put eating on your to-do list if that makes you more likely to do it. Your body only produces what you put into it, and it is important to remind ourselves that once in a while. 

We want you to know that you can get through this. We all can get through this. We just need to remember to take care of ourselves, and to take care of each other. You got this, Pioneers!