Setting Boundaries: A Large Part of Self-Care in College
posted by Jessica Slavett | October 3, 2018 | In News, OpinionIn college, one of the most important lessons we can learn is to know how to set boundaries, whether they are in relationships or for ourselves. When one knows how to set boundaries, that individual can become successful in different areas of life such as staying organized and having healthy relationships. Two students shared different ways in which they cope with juggling responsibilities as well as setting boundaries in their personal lives.
Roxanne Ware, a student getting her postbaccalaureate degree, mentioned that the most difficult thing about setting aside study time is making time for spending time with friends, having time for herself, and going to class. “I find the way that I do that well is by buying an agenda and labeling or putting in dates for important things.”
And, though one would hardly think of setting aside time for self-care, as a boundary, it can be very useful in keeping oneself on track in one’s personal and academic life. “Self-care is important to me, I feel like I always put so much pressure on myself to be perfect,” Ware said. She mentioned that when she was younger she was very successful academically, but when she approached her early twenties, she realized the importance of self-care. “The reason I was so stressed is because I was putting all this pressure on myself.” She also mentioned how boundary-setting is a huge part of self-care in college. She said if you don’t set boundaries, you may end up doing things that make you uncomfortable.
Dyiashia Rodwicz, a student working on her master’s degree mentioned that the hardest thing about making study time a priority is mastering a busy schedule. “As a graduate student, I have to earn 500 hours of internship. Then I still have to do actual homework before I can even think about studying.” She mentioned that certain assignments have to be a priority before studying because sometimes they weigh a great deal on her grade.
Self-care is also very important. “As a social worker major, we’ve been taught that self-care is important because the rate of burnout is huge,” Rodwicz said. She mentioned that self-care could be as simple as reading a favorite book, or partaking in a hobby.
Rodwicz mentioned that it’s important to set boundaries in college because “you don’t want to find yourself in a position where you’re uncomfortable and your roommates uncomfortable or even any of your friends. She mentioned that as a freshman she was nervous to discuss some habits that made her feel uncomfortable, and it turned into an altercation later on because she was afraid to set boundaries.
Learning to set boundaries is a crucial parts of insuring one’s well-being, especially in college. As we go on into our personal and career lives, it’s important that we realize to establish healthy boundaries for ourselves and others.
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