Breaking the Cliché of Self-Care

Student Leaders! WADDUP!

I’m Chelly Neuenschwander, and I graduated last May with a double major in psychology and business administration. I’m now working on my master’s in clinical mental health counseling at Ball State, and I also teach the baby undergrads here for the mandatory Introduction to Public Communication course. I want to share with you the most important part of life I’ve learned this year: do more self-care.



First, let’s define what self-care is. Self-care is the active participation in improving the quality of one’s health. You need to do this every day. Trust me, actively trying to improve your health on a daily basis can lead to greater job satisfaction, higher psychological well-being, preventing burnout, work-life balance…etc., I can send you the plethora of research articles to support why you need this. You need to be replenished for your own health, your professional endeavors, and your personal relationships. 

Jesus wants you do more self-care too. Your capacity to enjoy life and have good health is a gift from God. You are lovely, worthy, important, valuable, and deserve His love—as much as that doesn’t make sense. God sings with joy because you are His Beloved! And, He wants you to focus on yourself sometimes. “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2). Even if it seems selfish, you have to take care of yourself. You can’t give of yourself to others when there’s nothing left to give.

Martin Hall Staff, 2012-2013

At this point, maybe you’re thinking, Yes, I do need more self-care. But, I don’t have time in my schedule for this. And I’m calling bull on that. The more you have on your plate, the more you need time for self-care. I worked three campus jobs my last two years at AU, and all parts of my life suffered in those times I didn’t do self-care. So, I get you. You’re busy. You’re flat out exhausted. And you DEFINITELY don’t have time to add one more thing to your plate…but you have to add this. You can’t serve others well unless you have a full tank yourself. My self-care usually revolves in setting aside time with the Lord with no distractions or having life-giving conversations with friends. Maybe you just need to read a book, or exercise, or just be still. You do you, in whatever way you want to improve the quality of your health each day.

Another way student leaders may add stress to their lives is “should”ing on themselves, where they worry about the “to do” along with the “not to do” in their actions and what should have been done. This correlates with ineffective self-care since wishful thinking reduces problem-solving abilities, and self-blame perpetuates distress and restricts adaptive resources (Norcross, 2000). “Should”ing on yourself likely takes away from your other mental tasks and increases your cognitive busyness. Other people don’t see those things you “should” be doing, so, give yourself grace. You are enough. “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

TaFaSo (Apartment RAs), 2013-2014

God sees the good work you do, and that’s all that matters. Keeping doing it. And do more self-care.

As you go with God, give yourself rest, and rest in Him. As it is well with your soul, make it well with your health.

~Chelly Neuenschwander

Peer Mentor, 2011-2012
Martin Hall RA, 2012-2013
Fair Commons RA, 2013-2014
Mocha Joe’s Barista 2011-2014
Psychology Assistant 2012-2014