With deadlines, homework, and the stress of school weighing down on us, it’s pretty easy for us to get distracted from our mental and physical health. We often lose sight of how to keep ourselves happy and tell ourselves that it doesn’t matter, and our grades are more important. Although we can’t always see how this disregard for ourselves affects us in our daily life, eventually these problems we continue to ignore will one day explode in our face and lead to more problems. Luckily, there are five easy steps to get back on track towards self love, health, and care.

1) Value yourself.
This one may be the most important of the ten. Treating yourself with kindness and respect and criticizing yourself less is the first step to living a healthier and happier life. Make time for yourself and the things that you like to do. Broaden your horizons and try new things.

2) Make sure to take care of your body.
Taking care of yourself physically can also contribute to better mental health. Eating healthier and building a better should never be underestimated. By improving your diet, you’ll see yourself feeling more energized and happier. Drinking lots of water will also help you to feel more hydrated as well as energized. Exercising can also greatly improve your mental health. It can actually help decrease depression and anxiety and has the ability to improve moods. Getting an adequate amount of sleep is also important. Sometimes it’s okay to put your mental health over the huge pile of homework you have. Not getting enough sleep can cause high depression rates, especially in students.

3) Surround yourself with good people.
People who have strong family connections are generally healthier than those who don’t. If you’re relationship with your family isn’t all too great, this can make life difficult, but sometimes it’s out of our hands. If the tension within your family can’t be mended, seek to find family within your social connections and groups. Establishing healthy and positive relationships with good people can greatly improve mental health. Make plans with friends or look into joining clubs in which you can meet people who enjoy the same things as you. Make sure to cut out toxic people from your life, people who only seem to be bringing you down.

4) Learn how to deal with your stress.
Whether we like it or not, stress is sometimes unavoidable. However, finding a healthy outlet to release this negative energy into can be extremely beneficial. Practice good coping skills. These skills can include one-minute stress strategies, exercising, going outside and exploring nature, playing with your pet, or writing in a journal. Surround yourself with positive outlets for your stress.

5) Try something new.
Although it can be comforting to live without change, it’s a natural part of life and can even be fun if you allow it to be. Plan a spontaneous road trip, drive around places you’ve never been before with a friend, redecorate your room, or try a new restaurant. By trying new things, we open up our minds and introduce ourselves to thing we may possibly fall in love with. Living this way allows us to live always looking forward to the next day, excited for our next adventure.