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What does self-care for students mean? Is it a bubble bath and a face mask after a long day? Or is it a yoga class, listening to a virtual meditation, or just getting carry-out from a favorite local restaurant? Self-care looks different for everyone, and it’s no different for students. Whatever it means to you, self-care is here to stay. In fact, according to a recent survey, 7 in 10 Americans (73%) were more conscious of needing self-care, and nearly the same amount (69%) plan to do more self-care.
With this increase in prominence also comes an increase in content that, unfortunately, might not be as helpful as intended. Social media has a large presence and impact on today’s college students’ lives and understanding of the world. For better or worse, self-care content has also started filtering into the social feeds of college students. While social media may be a college student’s first interaction with self-care content, we want to make sure it isn’t the last.
That’s why at TimelyCare, we’ve created a full suite of self-care tools and resources that are organized into Self-Care Journeys. By addressing some of the top issues that impact academic performance, including stress, healthy eating, healthy relationships, anxiety, depression, and sleep, we’re providing students with self-care resources they can trust, in ways that are structured to help them set and achieve their wellness goals. Integrated into TimelyCare, our all-in-one virtual health and well-being solution, Self-Care Journeys supply students with the tools they need, anytime, anywhere. With it being integrated into TimelyCare, students can take the first step in their wellness journey and reach out to a mental health provider when they’re ready. We’re not replacing other self-care options like a bubble bath or working out, but we are making sure students have the tools, resources, and information they need so they can thrive in all aspects of their lives.
These journeys are mapped out within the TimelyCare app to help students better understand important topics that are affecting their lives while equipping them with tools on how to navigate college life. Each journey consists of a combination of short videos, engaging slides, and quick articles to help students engage with content in the way that they prefer.
What are Self-Care Journeys?
Rooted in therapeutic practices and delivered in ways Gen Z prefers to consume content, Self-Care Journeys are evidence-based tools we’ve designed for and road-tested with students to guide them on their journey to wellness. Whether students need to navigate stress, maintain healthy relationships, or learn healthy eating habits, our Self-Care Journeys have students covered.
These journeys are mapped out within the TimelyCare app to help students better understand important topics that are affecting their lives while equipping them with tools on how to navigate college life. Each journey consists of a combination of short videos, engaging slides, and quick articles to help students engage with content in the way that they prefer.
To learn more about Self-Care Journeys, here are some frequently asked questions that provide insight into what these journeys are, how the tools benefit college students, and how they can help your campus community thrive.
Meet students where they already are
1. Why were Self-Care Journeys added to TimelyCare?
Students are already seeking self-care content on other platforms. So, we knew we wanted to bring these tools and resources to our trusted virtual health and well-being platform where there is also access to behavioral health professionals. Thirty-four percent of students said they planned to use wellness or self-care activities to reduce stress and anxiety this upcoming year, and 18% said they wished their school offered this content to them. We are stepping into this gap with the resources students want and need.
The first step was understanding Gen Z: what they like, how they learn, and what they’re already doing. Social media has significantly shaped the ways students consume media. With that in mind, we made self-care tools and resources in short visuals like videos and engaging sliders. We then shaped the journeys themselves, with the goal to have students finish the whole journey and improve their health and well-being.
2. How do students access Self-Care Journeys?
If your students have access to TimelyCare, they also have access to Self-Care Journeys. Accessing this tool is simple. Students just tap on the “Explore” button.
If students aren’t sure where to start, we’re always here to help. We want students to access the right resources at the right time for them. Self-Care Journeys can be used on their own, or as a complement to an appointment in any other service line, scheduled or on-demand. If students aren’t sure where to start, we’re always here to help. Our goal is for students to access the right resources at the right time.
3. Why would someone interact with Self-Care Jouneys?
This content was designed specifically for college students. There is no “right” time or situation for a student to access these tools, which is why they are available at all hours and in different formats. Self-Care Journeys can function as an on-ramp for students to feel more comfortable talking about their mental health and connecting to a provider when needed.
We want to help students who are already—whether they realize it or not—on their health and well-being journeys. We called the feature Self-Care Journeys for a reason. It won’t be linear and it won’t be the same for every student. These tools and resources are available to ensure students have what they need to be successful in all aspects of their lives.
4. How are the tools and resources in Self-Care Journeys developed?
We know how students liked to consume content, but we wanted to get students’ first-hand experience and insights. So, we did just that. We met with students to get a feel for what they wanted, what they were looking for, and what they needed. But we didn’t stop there. It was important to look into models that have already been used and are known to be successful for habit and behavioral change. We leaned into these historically proven, evidence-based practices and modernized them for Gen Z students, such as short videos, Instagram-style sliders, and explainer articles. Each journey contains highly visual, informative, and engaging content based on provider-developed, gold-standard approaches.
The result was that our first journeys in the app include stress, healthy relationships, and healthy eating. As we also continue to add more content and other journeys, we will continue to engage students to get feedback on what they’re liking, what they’re wanting, and how we can improve the resources.
5. What should the result be for a student who completes a Self-Care Journey?
These tools and resources are an extension of the care students can already access in the TimelyCare app. Our virtual health and well-being platform continues to broaden access to care for college students, and this is just another part of that equation. No matter where students are in their wellness journey, our self-care tools and resources can help.
We work to ensure our platform is accessible to every student, whether it’s the student who is ready to make that counseling appointment or the student who just wants to learn more about creating healthy eating habits. Students can use Self-Care Journeys between classes, after a TalkNow session, or before they’re ready to make that appointment.
6. Why would a college or university want to have Self-Care Journeys as part of its campus health resources?
Adding self-care tools and resources to your campus
It’s a fact. Students are already seeking self-care information online. The question is if what they’re accessing provides factual, evidence-based, and trusted information. Campus leaders at nearly 250 colleges and universities trust TimelyCare to help more than 1.5 million students navigate college life. Whether it’s scheduled counseling, on-demand emotional support, peer community, or Self-Care Journeys, we can offer students the mental health care that meets them where they are.
Interested in helping students thrive at your school? Learn more about TimelyCare and bringing Self-Care Journeys to your campus today.
