Jenny Pajova (left), a freshman business administration major, draws with her friend Lily Merryman, a freshman biology major. The Self-Care club held its first meeting on Tuesday at the Student Center with and welcomes students to stop by and distress with group activities and an open discussion about student life at DePaul.
New Self-Care club started to offer students a stress-free space
With midterms behind us and finals fast approaching, it’s common to feel overwhelmed, stressed and hopeless. It feels as though the work never stops coming. We may be tempted to fall back onto unhealthy coping mechanisms such as overeating, undereating, procrastination, isolation and so on. Now, thanks to freshman Jessica Maya Guzman, there’s a new organization on campus to help students manage their stress more effectively.
The Self-Care Club is a student-led organization with a specific focus on taking care of yourself—whether it be your mental, physical or emotional health. Guzman formed the club after she noticed that she wasn’t checking in with herself and her interests as much as she used to.
Jenny Pajova (left), a freshman business administration major, draws with her friend Lily Merryman, a freshman biology major. The Self-Care club held its first meeting on Tuesday at the Student Center with and welcomes students to stop by and distress with group activities and an open discussion about student life at DePaul.
“I wanted students to have a place where they could be less stressed, because a lot of students are caught up in homework and [they] don’t take the time to do what they like anymore once they start college,” Guzman said. “For example, I stopped running once I came to college because I lacked motivation. I didn’t have a support group like I did in high school in my cross-country team. I wanted to have a support group where we can do things we enjoy and find friends who have similar interests.”
The Self-Care Club offers soothing activities to help students unwind and release some tension. Last week it was coloring and “Get-To-Know-You” activities, but Guzman has a full list of potential things to feature in meetings, such as cooking, planting, exercising and reading. She even has a long-term plan for the organization.
“I’d like to host events,” she said. “I’d like to have a [5k] race for the club eventually. I don’t know if I’ll get there but that’s one of my goals.”
The Self-Care Club just had its first meeting this past Tuesday, and students are definitely expressing interest.
“Being in college is a stressful time for everyone, and it’s easy to forget to take care of your mental health,” said junior Katie Rosich. “Having a group of people that would keep you healthy and accountable for yourself is very important but often overlooked, so it would be a great idea [to have a self-care organization].”
It’s comforting to know that you’re not alone in your stress, and a club focused on taking care of yourself mentally, emotionally and physically is inviting to students who can relate to your struggles and help you work through them in a healthy way.
Freshman vice president, Melanie Bordon (left), sets up snacks with freshman president Jessica Guzman for the first meeting of Self-Care Club
For DePaul students, this club is long overdue. Many would agree that too many college students are overrun with suffocating stress. Like Guzman, they lose interest in things that were once so important to them. Friendships are constantly tested and put on the backburner because school becomes a priority. Because of this, many students find themselves anxious or depressed with no positive outlet to express themselves.
According to the 2018 National College Health Assessment, 41.9 percent of college students report being so depressed it was difficult to function, and 87.4% felt overwhelmed by all they had to do. This is a national issue, and it is still relevant here.
The Princeton Review ranked DePaul the happiest national university three times up until 2014. In recent years, DePaul has failed to rank.
Studies have shown that when students work too hard with no relief, they tend to become burnt out. This can lead to a vicious cycle of feeling depressed or anxious, falling behind in work and then beginning to feel even more depressed or anxious, according to Healthline.
The Self-Care Club could be a step in the right direction for students who find themselves overwhelmed and anxious. Guzman wants this to not only be a place to relax, but an opportunity to form bonds and develop healthy coping mechanisms with other students who may be stressed themselves.
The Self Care Club meets weekly on Tuesdays in the Student Center, in room 316. However, Guzman said she wants the club to meet more often.
“I’d like for us to meet [unofficially] outside of Tuesdays. I’d like to just hang out outside of meeting time and go running, explore [and] just hang out.”