“Be kind. Really. Not just with others, but with yourself as well. Cherish the hearts of others, but also nurture your own. Take care of those around you, but also take the time to take care of yourself.” –Nicole Addison

Too often, the articles you will read preach to love those around you, but very seldom do they talk about self-love. And while it’s never a bad thing to take care of the people we are surrounded by, all too often we neglect to take care of ourselves. Whether it’s complimenting yourself on your own appearance or even taking breaks in between rigorous schedules, we all could do with some more self-care.

It is not a luxury to make your happiness a priority. It is a necessity. We need to move away from the idea that self-love is selfish.

Stress is at an all-time high around this time of the year. With in-state schools gearing up to begin the new year and private universities reaching the first exams of the semester, it’s important to realize that it is okay to take a step back and breathe. Here are five ways to take care of yourself when your mind starts to fall off track.

1. Put yourself in charge of your schedule.

This might sound strange. It’s MY schedule; of course I’m in charge of it! But more often than not, it’s not necessarily us who dictates our day – it’s our meetings, appointments, homework, and the general “to-do”s. I personally find myself under the most stress when I feel like I’m drowning in all the things I have to do throughout the day. Time management is crucial in moments like these. When you see a busy week coming up, take the time to ask yourself, “How can I schedule these assignments and meetings around, so that I won’t do them all at once?”

2. Live healthily.

Some people might feel like they may get stress JUST from doing this, but living healthily doesn’t have to look like eating only fruits and veggies. While eating healthy foods is important, living healthy includes getting enough sleep (which, who doesn’t love??), exercising regularly, and avoiding drugs and alcohol. There’s a common misconception that substance use will help alleviate stress, but it often increases the pressure that you feel to complete your work. With a healthy living style in sight, you can avoid such stress and actually feel GOOD enough to finish the day strong.

3. Treat. Yo. Self.

Whaatttt?? You just told us to eat healthy and have a healthy lifestyle!!! While it’s true that healthy eating and regular exercise induce the right toxins for happiness, sometimes all we really want is that piece of pizza... or that one cookie you’ve been eyeing since the start of dinner. Like I stated previously, living healthily doesn’t only look like eating fruits and veggies. If you want to bring yourself happiness, and that cookie will do so, go ahead. TREAT YO SELF!

4. Practice good hygiene.

If your room looks like a tornado went through it, chances are you’re not having a good week. A clean environment for you to study and sleep in will clear your mind and help you feel relaxed. From a personal standpoint, when I’m stressed, my room is a mess. There are clothes piles, an unmade bed, and trash bags just waiting to be taken out. If I’m already under the weather, the gross state of my room will only make it worse. Try cleaning your room for a new environment. Think of it as a fresh start to the day.

Another way to practice good hygiene is to wash yourself. Wash your hands, face, body, feet – anything that makes you feel clean. Good hygiene is obviously important for social and medical reasons, but it could also improve how you view yourself.

5. Try to do something you enjoy every day.

Being college students, it’s hard to find the time of day to do whatever we want. Obviously, it’s hard to do everything we want to do in our busy lives, but if you could find just one thing that brings you joy, and actually do it, it’ll make the rest of the day bearable. Eat chocolate, dance, read, paint, pet a dog, or watch one episode of that show you’ve been meaning to watch. Give yourself something to look forward to and something that will help you fight your way through the rest of the day.

In essence, all it takes is a simple five minutes. If those five tips above are too much for you, just a single five minutes of your day could be all that it takes to show yourself some love. Make sure that your body is taken care of; ensure that you are hydrated, nourished, and absent of pain. Make sure that your mind is cherished as well; you need to be genuinely content or aware that bad emotions are not everlasting.

Be patient. Feed both the body and the soul. Self-care isn’t always fun or easy, but it’s what keeps you healthy and, ultimately, happy. You owe it to yourself to live the life that makes you happy.