It's 2018, ladies and gentlemen. It's time we start seriously taking care of ourselves. This doesn't just mean when we're feeling down we make that an excuse to go out and spend all our money at Target, (though I am guilty of that from time to time), I'm talking about personal hygiene, maintenance, and mental and physical health. Trust me, even if you have absolutely no motivation to go to the gym or write that 10-page paper, simply splashing your face with cold water is enough to get your mind activated. Below are some of the things I personally do that I see as important even when I'm feeling sorry for myself. These things CAN and WILL make you feel better, even if someone ate your leftover pizza from last night...

Form a skincare routine

Having a solid skincare routine will not only be healthy for your face, but it will have you left feeling refreshed and will hopefully kickstart you to start taking care of yourself. Once or twice a week I will do a facemask. There are hundreds of different facemasks out there so find one you like the best. Not only is it good for your skin but it's also relaxing and fun to take selfies. It's important to wash your face with warm water in order to open your pores. I wash my face with Clean and Clear's Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub then wash it away with cold water in order to close those pores back up. After this, I tone my face with witch hazel. I use T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel Liquid, put some onto a cotton pad and wipe it all over my face. I moisturize my face with Clean and Clear's Advantage Acne Control Moisturizer. Finally, I spray my entire face with PearlEssence Rose Water and call it a day.

Get your nails and eyebrows done

Whether you do it yourself or go to a salon, it's true when they say when you look good, you feel good. Not everyone is made of money, especially us young men and women in college, so getting my nails and eyebrows professionally done every week simply cannot happen; therefore, I take matters into my own hands. Plan a night to sit down either by yourself, with your mom, or with a friend to paint your nails and do your eyebrows. Personally, I love getting acrylic nails at the salon. I don't always have the money to get them done every 2 weeks, so when my beloved acrylics aren't on I always take the time to trim and file my nails. I also love to get my eyebrows threaded. I know a lot of people squirm when thinking about it but it's what works best for me. In between getting them done, I pluck them in order to have them clean and well-kept. Even if you think no one else will notice, when you keep your outward appearance clean and tidy, you will start to feel better on the inside.

Drink a lot of water

There is literally nothing better than ice-cold water. Drinking water is one of the most important things one can do in order to be healthy. It helps your skin, keeps you hydrated, fills you up when you're craving an unhealthy snack and is generally just good for your overall health and well-being. If you don't drink enough water, something that will really help you is getting a cool water bottle. This is a better alternative to plastic water bottles and actually gets you drinking that water! A lot of people I see around school and such have a Camelbak water bottle, but I really enjoy water bottles with cute designs or quotes on them. You can find cheap and pretty water bottles at stores like Michael's or on Amazon and trust me, this will really help you with drinking water throughout the day.

Take time for yourself

You don't have to go and party every weekend. I know some people have the mindset that you're only young once and you should take every opportunity you have to have fun, but I disagree. If you want to stay in on Friday night and just binge watch Netflix, do it. If your friends are all going out to the bar on Thursday but you have class early on Friday, just stay in and make sure you have everything ready for class. Sometimes it's hard to say no, even if you want to go out, but you need to take your responsibilities as your priority. Think about how good you'd feel when you stay in on Friday to get all your work done, then go out on Saturday and not have to worry about finishing that paper. It's really important to get your work done before going out. Don't worry if people call you lame or a party-pooper, this is your life and if you don't want to go out, you don't have to. Never be afraid to say no to hanging out with someone if you just want to be alone or have more important things to do.

Be as optimistic as possible

I'm definitely guilty of being a negative Nancy. Between the horrible events that are taking place in our country and the evil and sadistic crimes we hear about on the news, it's hard to have faith in humanity at times. Personally, I'm just kind of a grumpy person but I've been working on this recently in order to have a healthier and happier life. Try not to go on social media so much. I always feel upset and self-conscious when I see photos of girls with perfect hair, skin, and bodies, out with their friends or in a really expensive car. Good for them, but you need to realize these photos aren't their entire lives. Think of yourself, you always post the best photos of yourself, these girls feel down and upset sometimes too and post these photos to fill them on the inside. Likes and comments won't always makes you happy. Sorry for the rant- just try to look at the good things in life and count your blessings. Some people have it a lot worse than you, just be grateful for the things you do have and the good people in your life. I always go to websites like Pinterest to read quotes about life and motivation.

Find things that interest you

I absolutely love reading, writing, and doing my makeup. Whether you're interested in photography, painting, hiking, cooking, find things that make you happy and try to do them at least once a day. I'm always reading something on account of being an English major, but I also love reading my own novels and different articles on Odyssey and BuzzFeed. Currently, I'm reading She, by H. Rider Haggard, Sputnik Sweetheart, by Haruki Murakami, and outside of class, I'm reading Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie. I also write a lot of papers, but my favorite thing to write is Odyssey articles and journal entries in my diary talking about what I did that day or how I feel. I find enjoyment out of doing these things and it makes me feel good. Doing my makeup is also really fun for me because I love to try new looks and use my face as a canvas to express myself. If you aren't too sure what you could do as a hobby, just try doing different things and I'm sure you'll find something you'll really love doing.

Take bubble baths

If it was humanily possible, I would spend the rest of my life in a bubble bath. Some people think sitting in a tub of their own filth is gross, and some people may not even fit in the bathtub, but I fit perfectly fine and love soaking up the bubbles and hot water. Bubble baths are not only calming and relaxing, but it's good for your muscles and your skin. There are so many different bubbles and bath bombs you can incorporate into your bath. You can find just about any scent of bath bomb at Lush, but my personal favorite is Mr. Bubble Original Bubble Bath. I know, I'm a child. No shame! There are also different oils you can put in your bath with hundreds of different scents that can relieve stress, calm your muscles, and generally just make you feel good. I truly believe everyone should take baths because it is a perfect time to meditate and gather your thoughts while bathing at the same time. When you're done reading this, go take a bath!

Have a clean environment

Personally, I actually love cleaning and organizing. It's just fun for me and I love having all of my things in their own little spot. It's important to have a clean room or desk so you can feel like you have your sh!t together. If your stuff is all over the place, your mind will be all over the place as well. If you always find yourself having a messy room, take one day out of the week to do your laundry, fold your clothes, make your bed, and just put everything in a neat little spot. Clutter is not healthy for anyone. Although I enjoy cleaning, I always find myself not doing it until my room looks like a tornado hit it. Don't wait that long! After deciding on an outfit, put all the clothes you ripped out of your closet and hang them back up. By doing this, you'll never get to the point where cleaning seems overwhelming. A clean environment is a step closer to a clean mind.

Get outside

I know it's April and still snowing, but that's just good old New England for you. When it starts to get warmer out, I love doing my work outside or taking a walk with my dog. The sunshine makes everyone feel good. Getting outside and breathing in the fresh air is a great way to get your mind off things and just absorb the beautiful nature around you. Taking even a few minutes out of your day to be outside is really important so you are reminded of how beautiful our Earth really is. Whether it's spring, summer, fall, or winter, sitting outside and reading a book or playing in the snow will definitely make you feel good.