Intellectual self-care is the initiative to develop skills and knowledge.

Establish realistic expectations for yourself

Do you remember learning to ride a bike? Of course, you probably wanted to be able to ride it by yourself on the first day, but knew you would need to work up to that. If you’re like most kids you started with training wheels, then moved to a spotter and then finally were able to ride by yourself. You had to have realistic expectations. You want to challenge yourself, but realistic means it is doable. In science class that might mean you will not get 100% on every test. You are going to try, but know you might not get it each time. Don’t leave big projects to the final due date. You can’t realistically get them all done overnight. That’s why the teacher assigned them earlier. Organize the project and then set realistic expectations to get it done in a timely manner.

Engage in productive conversations

When you are having a conversation with someone, really pay attention to what they are saying. You can’t do that if you are texting and on social media. Have a full conversation. Put down your phone, turn off the TV, and avoid other distractions. Pay attention to body language. You say more with your facial expressions and tone than you do with words. Also, listen as much as you talk and don’t dominate the conversation; allowing others to contribute their ideas and opinions. Avoid gossip, rumors and other negative talk.

Read daily

Dr. Seuss said “The more you read the more things you know. The more that you learn the more places you’ll go.” If you read just 20 minutes each day, you will be exposed to 1.8 million words in a year. Reading takes you on adventures, helps you escape bad times, and introduces you to new things.

Unplug/limit screen time

In 2018, CBS News reported that kids (age 8-18) spent more than 7 hours a day on their devices. Computers, reading devices, phones, iPads, and most technology use an artificial light called blue light. Although blue light is helpful during the day to boost attention, reaction time, and mood, it interferes with your sleep. It is suggested you turn off your device 2-3 hours before you go to bed so you can sleep better. Social media has a lot of great aspects to stay connected, meet new people, and find new hobbies. It can also create feelings of anxiety, isolation, cyberbullying, and depression. How much time do you spend on your device each day? There are apps to help track your usage. Set a goal to decrease your screen time by a few minutes each day. You could do this by disabling notifications and turning your phone off at certain times. Don’t take your phone or tablet to bed. Set time limits for social media, gaming, online searches, etc.

Choose a skill to work on and develop

To be well-balanced, you need to not only develop your academic skills, but also your creative skills. A lot of times when talking about “intellect” you might think about school work. But you need to challenge your brain in other ways too (e.g., art, music, brain teaser puzzles, auto mechanics, skateboard tricks, performing arts, basketball skills, etc.) Here’s a brain teaser for you: Read the word that is written as fast as you can. Then say the color you see, not the written word, as fast as you can. Was one way easier than the other for you?

List of colors

What are you already doing for Intellectual Self-Care?