By Alex Lauricio

The average Atenean school day features a plethora of school assignments, requirements, reportings and other tasks that demand a lot out of a student. As we weather through the many sleepless nights of the year, let us remind ourselves that in our pursuit of excellence, be it academic or otherwise, we should not forget to thank the body that has endured so much—take care, ASHS!

As we wave our goodbyes to the summer that was, we are already being slowly greeted by the upcoming school year that starts this August. Classes are just around the corner, and we shall soon bid farewell to sleeping 8-10 hours a day and having just about all the time in the world to do whatever we want to do. With what little time we have left, it demands that we spend our time effectively in order to recuperate from the day’s events.

You might opt to eat ice cream, or immerse yourself in a world of books. The possibilities are endless in how you choose to spend your time outside of work. The only important part here is that you actively set apart time just so that you can rest. Such is self-care, which is an important component of health to keep both body and mind in good condition.

For the uninitiated, self-care is just about any activity under the sun—provided that it’s primarily for recreation and taking care of your body, be it physically, mentally, or other holistic facets of everyday living. At some point you just can’t keep writing your academic papers and expect a healthy dose of sleep—which is why it’s a good thing that there are other ways to take care of yourself and unwind after a tough day. 

So, ASHS, here are some tips and tricks on how to take care of yourself:

“One of the things I do is to talk with friends,” says Marcus Suner.

Many share the sentiment that hanging out with friends after a long day’s work is a good way to unwind—extroverts rejoice in the thought of talking with their buddies, as if spending the entire day with them wasn’t enough. We often flock towards Messenger group chats or Discord servers and hop into calls with friends as a means of destressing.

It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but many people see their friends as a huge motivator for going to school in the first place. Whether it’s learning about the latest chika with your circle or catching up with your significant other, it can be a refreshing break from the schoolwork that comes crashing down your to-do list. On the other hand, you may already be socially tired, and there are many other ways to rest.

Student varsities, for instance, who already spent a majority of their time being tired in the courts, have to responsibly delegate some of their free time as rest.

“I guess it’s a core part of being an athlete — you have to take care of yourself both physically and mentally because it gets draining…”

Student-athletes like Abby Martija may be passionate about the sports that they play—they train their bodies to endure the strenuous workouts and routines, and have the mental fortitude necessary to keep focus despite spending entire weeks thinking about sports. Still, even they need to time out and spend some duration of their week outside of the courts. 

Besides, athletes don’t always train 24/7, because they recognize the need to take breaks. “Sometimes you just have to slow down,” she continued—and this slowdown is exactly what keeps Abby and her teammates energized to take on another win inside sports arenas, and shows exactly why “cooling down” is part of a sports routine.

“Treating yourself sometimes won’t hurt too!” Be it a small piece of a chocolate bar or a seldom trip to your local Korean BBQ restaurant, learn to reward your body and yourself for enduring a day’s work. 

At some point, we’ll eventually reap the seeds of self-care as it blossoms into a beautiful and bountiful harvest. The fruit? Sweet success, whose taste is outlined by how we define growth, triumph, and success itself.

“I’m here now [in] Ateneo still playing and that’s because I took the time to take care of myself and kept my mentality goal oriented.”

While some people indulge in food and cravings, some people favor the embrace of a warm, weighted blanket on a soft, newly-made bed. Maybe others take it to the refrigerator to relax—and some would like to sit down on a couch to let their body recuperate.

“I unwind by taking naps, rewatching my fave shows and listening to music.” Says Kate Quiambao, a resident student-athlete  of the ASHS. Like Abby, Kate learns to slow down by learning to dedicate some time to sleep, and in the times when they can’t sleep, they tune in to their favorite series on streaming platforms in order to pass the time.

Many of us are just like them—eager to take some time off to watch a couple of episodes, or read a couple dozen pages of a book we’ve been so excited to read but just can’t find the time nor energy. Or perhaps being stationary isn’t your thing, and you want to explore places: 

“I find that going to malls, cafes, etc by myself is really peaceful and helps me destress.” says Hermie Caro, who tries her best to balance life with managing an organization in the ASHS. 

“I think the best way to unwind, at least for me, is to have a quiet, peaceful date with myself.” Who said it takes two to tango? Well, you can go with someone and treat them to a date—or go and treat yourself to one. There is solace in solitude, and sometimes you just don’t want to share a slice of pizza or your favorite fruit shake with another.

Sometimes it really helps when all you really have to think about is yourself—taking trips to parks or museums and having unprecedented attention on yourself are therapeutic as can be. You don’t really need a hand to hold on to besides your own, and these journeys are not limited to recreational self-care trips, but can even be avenues for self-discovery and self-reflection. 

“And when you’re all battered and bruised because you failed to take care of yourself, you won’t be able to appreciate what you’ve worked towards. Self-care also allows you to slow down and appreciate what you have now, what you’ve already achieved, which I think is really important to help keep you grounded and a great way not to lose yourself.” Hermie continued.

Apart from students, even teachers also need to practice self-care! If they’re not busy working 24/7, they also take up a whole range of hobbies outside of school. It’s always fun to learn more about your subject teachers, because apart from being school mentors, they also act as our friends—and like friends you can make kwento to them as they will to you.

“I do simple physical exercises regularly! Whether it’s yoga, zumba, or just simple stretching exercises, I make sure I attend to my regular schedule 3-4 times a week,” says ASHS teacher Ma’am Bilog.

You may have even seen them—several teachers in the ASHS are active in fitness and exercise, and if you take the time to ask them, you’ll learn that this is a result of years-long dedication to bettering themselves and their bodies. It is but a testament of how important self-care can be, as it can go a long way!

“It’s important for me because aside from the physical health benefits, it helps me think more clearly.”

Whether your body is bruised or battered, or you simply need to find time to unwind after a long day—we can all undoubtedly agree that self-care has an important role in our lives, not just as students, but also as people. Show yourself some love, because at the end of the day, the only thing left standing is none other than you.

Take care, ASHS!