Weekly Devotional: How To Practice Self-Care in College

The God of the heavens and the earth calls you precious and beloved. He knows every hair on your head, every inch of your skin and every thought that runs through your head. He dwells within us and calls our bodies a house of worship. To me, that sounds like something we are meant to take care of. 

Unlike the God of the universe, we require work, rest and boundaries. We are human — finite beings and people with limits. To practice self-care is to remember that God is bigger than us.

Caring properly for our bodies and minds is crucial, especially as college students with jam packed schedules and new independence. Read to learn more about how to practice self-care from a biblical perspective.

In This Article:

• What Is Self-Care?
• Self-Care in Scripture
• Self-Care: Spiritual Practices

What Is Self-Care?

So, what is self-care? Author Adele Calhoun defines it as the practice of honoring God through nurturing and protecting the limits/desires of the body, mind and spirit. Calhoun states taking care of yourself can include:¹

• Exercising, sleeping and eating sensibly
• Setting appropriate boundaries
• Resting
• Giving and receiving love
• Thanking God for his design
• Encouraging yourself
• Recognizing and operating in your spiritual gifts
• Choosing healthy relationships
• Making time for yourself and your own enjoyment

Self-Care in Scripture

Some may argue today that self-care is a buzz word that appears selfish — only focuses on glorifying yourself and doesn’t leave space for God. However, the idea of taking care of yourself — physically, mentally and spiritually — is found throughout Scripture.

Let’s look at what the Bible says about practicing self-care:

1. 1 Corinthians 13:16: “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” (ESV). Your body is a temple inhabited by the Holy Spirit. If God calls our bodies a place of worship, we should honor and respect our bodies. 

2. Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship,” (ESV). Again, we have the ability to worship God with our bodies. We should be working to do so in a way that brings us closer to holiness. 

3. 3 John 1:2: “Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit,” (NLT). This verse stresses the importance of health in all aspects. 

4. 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God,” (NIV). This verse contradicts the notion that self-care cannot glorify God. While it does benefit us, it ultimately glorifies the Lord. 

5. Matthew 22:39: “And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself,” (NIV). The greatest commandment following loving God is this. If we are not loving ourselves well, how can we love our neighbor well? Taking care of yourself is the first step in taking care of others. Rather than pushing ourselves to the point of exhaustion, stuffing our emotional pain or ignoring physical symptoms of sickness, God instead calls us to give him our burdens, rest, spend our time wisely and nurture our souls.

Self-Care: Spiritual Practices

Many college students most likely have the desire to take care of themselves, but maybe lack the tools to properly do so. Here are some ideas to guide you:¹

• Gratitude: Make a list of your gifts/things you like about yourself. For instance, maybe you admire your ability to encourage others or your hard work ethic. Take a moment of gratitude toward yourself and thank God for creating you uniquely.
• Affirmations: College can be a difficult time for many regarding confidence. Not only are you enduring many lifestyle changes, but you are continually surrounded by your peers which can make it easy to fall victim to comparison. If this is a struggle for you, consider beginning or ending your day looking in the mirror and speaking affirmations to yourself. For example, I am loved, I am doing my best, My body is powerful, or God says I am chosen. This may sound silly or feel uncomfortable at first, but you may be surprised by the positive shift in your thought patterns over time.²
• Day of delight: As a college student, our free time can quickly become swallowed up by assignments, work, friends, significant others and additional responsibilities. When was the last time you made time for yourself? Consider setting aside a day to indulge in your hobbies and do things you delight in that you may not normally make time for. Perhaps there is a new coffee shop you’ve been wanting to try or a new movie you’ve been wanting to see. Perhaps you enjoy painting but haven’t touched your brushes in a few weeks, or love writing but now you only write for school and not for pleasure.
• Set goals: Reflect on the various areas of your life and consider ways you can improve for the betterment of yourself. How many hours of sleep are you getting each night? In what ways are you being active? What are you eating? How much time are you spending working vs resting? Start small and write down a few changes you can make to practice self-care well.

By implementing specific spiritual practices, you may notice the good fruit produced from self-care, such as:¹

• Firmer sense of identity
• Self-awareness 
• Freedom from burnout or unhealthy habits
• Deep understanding of your Creator’s love for you
• Gained confidence

If you desire to learn more about how to practice self-care in college and its benefits, consider Grand Canyon University’s Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health or attending Spiritual Formation workshops. Fill out the form on this page to learn more.