TIPS FOR SELF LOVE (the “maintaining net self-worth” kind)

SLOW DOWN AND PRIORITIZE: Think about deadlines, factor them in. Not everything needs to be done now. Breathe in. Have some “You-time”. Realize that the small stuff isn’t necessary. Yes,the trash needs to be taken out eventually,but right now putting out the fire is more compelling,and frankly a little more important. You can learn from your mistakes. Breathe out. Now get back to work.

SCHEDULE: Time management and figuring what you can and can’t cram into one day will keep you from having a perpetual “balance transfer” on your daily to-do lists. Knowing that you can’t do everything,you might want to initially keeptrack of your time use and iteratively fix your idea of what you can actuallyfit in one day. I schedule in my hours for sleep because I sometimes forget and that’ll creep up on you and get you sick. Polyphasic sleep isn’t for everyone. Consistency in habits means less things to think about.

RECOGNIZE AVAILABLE RESOURCES: The people around you have often dealt with similar things as you do. Colleagues and friends are great to talk to for support. Technology can help,even if it is just a spreadsheet of the status of things to do. Professional help is available,and actually I think you can get more free walk-in therapy sessions if your life has gotten a little out of hand and you’re developing anxious problems. The Tang Center isn’t so bad a place
to start.

KEEP IN GOOD HEALTH: Mental and physical stimulation will make you a better student in general due to your having lower stress levels and generally better health. Hit the RSF, play some mentally taxing games, do the puzzles in the newspapers. Laugh hard and often,it works physiological wonders even if you’re faking it (but there are plenty of things in Berkeley to make you not have to fake it!) …Don’t do it too hard though or you can hurt yourself. Moderation!

WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN. You’ll be less likely to get sick. And less likely to get others sick. And that’sgood for everyone. No man (or woman) is an island:even if you are considering dying alone and getting eaten by wild dogs eventually,for now you’re a grad or professional student here at Cal and interacting with enough people by virtue of coming in to work that it is really the
socially responsible thing to do. Regardless what you think about the associations of the phrase,“Just Do It,” you should just do it!