Deglamorizing the Lack of Self-Care in College Students

Stop Prioritizing Everything Besides Your Own Well-Being

By Gabi Drobot, Assistant Editor

College students are notorious for severely lacking in the self-care department, and even tend to openly discuss their unhealthy habits.

College is a time when students attempt to juggle a multitude of tasks while also doing their best to take care of themselves and also have fun. But when there are not enough hours in the day, what is the first thing upon which students should focus?

“I haven’t eaten anything today and barely slept,” said Mikeyla Preziosi, a sophomore.

Skipping meals to cram for an exam, presentation or even to sleep has become an unhealthy norm for many college students. Many students will even say, “I ate sleep for dinner.”

These types of statements are made daily, especially by college students, and this constant state of comparison comes from deeply-rooted ideals that work must come first, even over our well-being. Work-life blance has become obscured for many students who conitnue to misprioritize their lives.

According to the National Library of Medicine, 50% of college students report daytime sleepiness and 70% of college students get insufficient sleep. The reasons underlying this decrease in sleep can vary from anxiety, alcohol consumption and technology. With Lynn University being an Apple-powered institution, technology use is prevalent.

The underlying question remains: Why do college students need to express their lack of well-being to others? The reasoning can be competitiveness, jealousy or even seeking help.

“People aren’t asking for attention, they are asking for help,” said freshman Brianna Velaney.

Involving oneself in these anti-well-being habits can create a sense of normalcy in the essence of lesser well-being. It creates an unrealistic expectation to live up to. On the other hand, sharing these concerns with others can develop a sense of community. Students may find a serenity in knowing they are not the only ones suffering.

“I think college students display their lack of self-care to others so that they don’t feel alone in what they are feeling,” said Kennedy Kraemer, a senior.

If college students start displaying their successes in self-care, others may be more inclined to practice these habits and potentially adopt them.