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What to Do on a Self-Care Day as a Postgraduate Student

Everyone needs to take some time for themselves, especially if they lead stressful lives or lives that are full of change. Both of these ring true for the postgraduate student. This is someone trying to find a job and gain real-world experience while also paying off debts from undergraduate and graduate school.

It is important that postgraduate students take some time off to take care of themselves so that they can relax and make the most out of their working days. What these people do on a day off is up to them, but here are some suggestions for making the most of your self-care days as a postgraduate student.

Find Ways to Protect Your Mind During the Work Week

The work week can be stressful and fast pace. Use your day off as a way to mental prep for the week. This means taking care of any errands that you have.

This is a good time to renew your license plate, auto insurance, and health insurance. This is also a good time to explore options about new ways to protect yourself and family through life insurance and disability insurance even as a resident.

Meal prepping can go a long way to reduce workday stress. If you spend two hours meal prepping you can prepare lunch and even dinner for the whole week. This means that all you need to do is reheat and you will have a healthy and inexpensive dinner.

Eat Well

Eating well means a lot of different things. While you should always be eating well in terms of eating healthy, nutritional foods, hopefully, you do this often. If not, taking some time off to examine your diet and eat fresh fruits and vegetables can do a world of good.

If you do regularly eat well and exercise, then you can use your day off as a kind of cheat day. You are probably on a tight budget, so gourmet treats may be off the table, but it is a great time to indulge in baking homemade cookies just the way you like them.

Go Out in Nature

Many jobs or internships that postgraduate students enter into are in urban offices and other areas far removed from nature. Take this time to go back to your roots.

  • Go on a hike or at least take a walk in a green space or along a walking trail
  • Go horseback riding
  • Go mountain biking
  • Go rock climbing with the proper equipment on an actual rock face if you have practiced enough indoors
  • Swim in a nearby ocean or bay, if possible

A lot of these activities also involve physical exercise. That is an added bonus that, though you may exercise every day, exercising outside may be a rare treat with your busy schedule. If you don’t exercise much, then let this day be the start of a new healthy habit for you.

Look for Rewarding Work

If you are taking this day off from a place that you hate, then now is a good time to consider searching for a job that you will like. You have worked very hard to get here, now you just need to take the time to find the job that will reward you for that hard work not only in the form of decent pay, but also in the form of a good work environment.

Checking local job boards and professional social media profiles is a productive way to spend your day off and can even help you upgrade from your current practice, profession, or internship into one that rewards you more for your efforts.

Spend Time With Your Family

After years and years of school, you may have been away from your family for long periods of time. If you have a good relationship with them, it may help you recharge if you spend time with some of your relatives. They can help you through any situation that you’re going through, whether that situation is personal or professional.

If you don’t have a great relationship with your relatives, then consider using this time to try to repair your relationship with them. It may be difficult, but now is a good time to book a family therapy session if that is something that you can afford and something that you and your family are both committed to.

So Many Options, So Little Time

Taking time off can feel selfish, but it gives you the chance to be liberated. No matter what you do on your day off, make sure that you are protected during the days that you need time to recover from sickness or injury with insurance. Seize the free day.

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Written by Virily Editor