During the school year, students are constantly preoccupied with homework, grades, friends and family life. When trying to balance all of them equally, they usually forget to give themselves some attention.

The pressure of balancing school, social life and sleep usually results in stress and nervous breakdowns. It it important to remember to give yourself some Tender Love and Care (TLC), and to thank your body for allowing you to live your life. Although school can take up a major part of your life, it is good to leave a little time for some self care; “health over homework” is the motto to follow!

Here are five simple ways you can take care of yourself, even at the most stressful of times.

Take a warm bath: Sitting in some warm water, alone with your thoughts, is an easy way to calm yourself. When you are taking a bath, it is the perfect time to reflect on life – think about the future, your aspirations, your goals. To enhance the bathing experience, bath bombs can be added to the water – LUSH bath bombs are a popular choice amongst teens. These bath bombs are iconic for the beautiful color swirls they create in the water, and their magnificent smells. Incense and candles are also a great way to help relax in a bath; there are tons of different scents to choose from, sandalwood and lavender being some of the best to clear the mind.

Go outside: Another easy way to help lower stress levels and to give yourself some “me time” is to go outside and take a walk – put on your most comfortable clothes, step outside and get some fresh air. Being cooped up all day in your room with papers strewn everywhere is not the best environment. It is healthy to take in nature’s beauty and soak up some Vitamin D. You can take a stroll in your neighborhood park or bike down a trail in Key Biscayne; whatever suits your liking, go for it!

“…high school definitely takes a toll on students because of all the work. I find myself falling asleep on top of textbooks and papers and then having to get up at three in the morning to finish my work,” sophomore Maria Ordoñez said.

Exercise: Working out is scientifically proven to lower stress levels. There is no need to do anything as extreme as the “Insanity Workout” or “P90X” routines; a short jog outside, or a quick yoga flow can get the blood flowing, and ease tension. Not only that, exercise is a great way to maintain your health, and work on that beach body for when summer rolls around!

Get Yourself Something Nice: It is never good to indulge in sugary sweets or savory snacks, but a nice treat once in a while is a great way to show yourself some tender love and care. Food is not the only thing you can do to treat yourself – buying that lipstick color you have always wanted or that shirt you have had your eyes on for months is another healthy way to show some self love.

“Self care is important because having a day to yourself can help you reflect on your life and lets you take a break from your everyday worries,” sophomore Libertad Robledo said.

Sleep:  This is one of the most essential functions of the human body, and it is snatched away from us because of school. Did you know that after around three days of no sleep, people will start hallucinating? Click here to further read about the effects of sleep deprivation. Sleep is an incredibly important thing, and being deprived of such a basic function can cause detrimental effects on you in the long run, so go and catch a few “Z’s” after school – your body will thank you for it! 

Self care is important to keep yourself mentally, physically and emotionally healthy. Even though school can become overwhelming, taking a break from it all and giving yourself the attention you deserve is necessary. Remember: your health comes before anything else; without it, you will not be able to do the things you love about life!