{"id":1267,"date":"2022-09-05T10:32:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T17:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/?p=1267"},"modified":"2022-09-05T10:35:44","modified_gmt":"2022-09-05T17:35:44","slug":"the-secret-ingredient-to-a-successful-school-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/ucan\/the-secret-ingredient-to-a-successful-school-year\/","title":{"rendered":"The Secret Ingredient to a Successful School Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"A common myth is that you need to be hard on yourself to stay motivated. The truth is just the opposite. Self-compassion<\/strong> is actually the secret ingredient to a successful school year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The school year has started up again and that means new classes, new schedules, loads of coursework, and a <\/span>big <\/b>stress level increase.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\n \nWhat’s going to help you get through a stressful season is actually being kind to yourself.\n<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n

What comes to mind when you think of the word <\/span>compassion<\/span><\/i>? For me, I think of the time when I saw a family sleeping under a bridge in the cold. I felt an instant pull to end their suffering, even if in a small way, like giving them some hot cocoa. <\/span><\/p>\n

Self-compassion<\/b> is reflecting that desire to end someone\u2019s suffering towards yourself. In other words, it\u2019s like asking yourself, \u201cwhat would I do if my friend told me about something they were struggling with?\u201d And doing just that <\/span>for yourself<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Self-compassion is made up of 3 pieces:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Mindfulness<\/b> (instead of over-identification). <\/span>Being mindful means coming back to the present moment, or the \u201cnow,\u201d without any judgment. Get curious about what\u2019s going on with your stress levels, your classes, your social life, etc., without judging yourself. When you feel your anxiety rising thinking about all you have to do, come back to the now and notice if your anxiety lessens – it often does!<\/li>\n
  2. Self-kindness<\/b> (instead of self-criticism). <\/span>When we turn in an assignment late or forget to do a reading for a class, it\u2019s easy to beat ourselves up for our mistakes. Instead of saying mean things to yourself, acknowledge that you made a mistake and say something encouraging like, \u201cI missed that reading, but I know I can write reading assignments on my calendar and get them done on time moving forward. I am capable!\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. Common humanity<\/b> (instead of isolation). <\/span>The next time you feel overwhelmed while studying for a test, remember that you are not alone. It\u2019s easy to feel like you are the only one struggling, but when we remember that other people make mistakes and struggle like us, it helps us be kind to ourselves and persevere through challenges. It also helps us make connections with others (e.g., in a study group or with a friend in the same class).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Self-compassion plays out in the form of self-care. We take care of the things we love. If you can see yourself as someone worthy of compassion, love and care, then this can trickle down to acts of self-care.<\/p>\n

    \"\"Self-care is not selfish. Sometimes, taking time to take care of ourselves gives us the space to recharge and feel ready to hop back into school mode. Here are a few of my favorite ways to take care of myself when I start feeling overwhelmed:<\/span><\/p>\n