Self-Care—A Glass That’s Always Full
Welcome to your crash course in using your college experience to make meaningful change in your life.
Transformational College Experience Part 3
The Transformational College Experience is a three-part series of tips and tools based on lectures given by alum Dante DiBattista ’17. In part three, we’ll explore meaningful self-care strategies that you can start today.
Prioritize Inner Peace
Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean that you’ll never experience stress. Self-care isn’t just about taking a spa day—it’s about making consistent time for the things that fill your cup. Having self-care practices that you can break out anywhere, whether that’s exercising, reading a good book, listening to music, or calling someone you love, will keep you feeling good for the long run.
Take 3 Minutes
Self-care doesn’t have to take a lot of time. DiBattista credits the practice of gratitude journaling with a more positive mindset, and you can do the same right now. Take three minutes and write down three things you’re grateful for. Repeat each day. You might just find, like DiBattista did, that this simple practice packs a big self-care punch.
Use Mental Health Supports
When you find that self-care is not enough, you can come to Widener’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) team to help. From confidential individual therapy to crisis intervention and support groups, we’ll be there to help you reconnect with what’s most important.
Visit the mental health success hub for more resources and services
Create Your Own Placebo Effect
A psychological concept DiBattista often uses to his benefit is the placebo effect. There’s strong scientific evidence that just by thinking we’re receiving a cure, we actually feel the positive effects, whether or not the medicine was “real.” In this way, believing in yourself is not just a motivational phrase but an actionable step you can take to create change. Even if you’re aware of this trick of mind, you can still feel the effects.
Be Selflessly Selfish
Making time for self-care can sometimes feel difficult and almost selfish, but that’s not the case, DiBattista says. When you take time for yourself, you create the best version of yourself for your family and friends to experience. Sometimes you may have to say no, and that’s okay. College is a safe place to explore setting and maintaining boundaries. There is no better self-care than that.
Dante DiBattista ’17 is an award-winning leadership coach, consultant, and public speaker who has worked with clients across the globe to empower executives and employees alike to be their best. He is an active Widener alum and has appeared on the Far & Widener podcast. His book, The Transformational College Experience: How to Make the Most of It, is available now. Visit DiBattista’s website to learn more about him, and watch the full video from this masterclass.