Tips for TLC from a Pandemic PhD

The term “Self-Care” got thrown around so often at the beginning of 2020 it started to feel like a chore I needed to include in my weekly to-do list. I would find myself asking, what does self-care even look like? Is it throwing on my comfy pajamas and a face mask or laying on the couch to watch the latest episode of the Bachelor? Wait, maybe it’s refusing to answer emails after 4 pm on Friday? 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of individuals, including myself, to experience negative emotions such as stress, uncertainty, and grief. I will be the first to tell you the last thing on my mind during this time was remembering to engage in self-care. 

It wasn’t until the beginning of this year, when I finally got COVID, that I realized how crucial and easy it was to implement self-care practices in my life. Extending grace, setting boundaries as a graduate student, and focusing on my mental and physical health are all self-care practices that have improved my well-being over the past month and a half. 

After a dreadful experience with COVID, I felt the need to find avenues to share what I learned with others. Consequently, the AERA Graduate Student Council put out a call for submissions for their most recent newsletter issue: “Honoring Self-Care.” My latest op-ed published on page 12 highlights how COVID affected my first-generation graduate student experience and how my community supported me throughout this time.

Although it can be challenging to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the darkest of times, we must remember we are not alone. In addition, the creative works submitted by other graduate students in this issue reminded me that finding and practicing self-care can look different depending on your situation. Whether you are an international student, a full-time parent, or a first-generation Latina like me, dedicating time to yourself in any manner does wonders.