Taking care of your physical and mental health is one of the best ways to show yourself some love and appreciation. Mental health is something that is really important to me. It is very cheesy, but you should love yourself first. It's okay to take some time out of your day to check in with yourself and evaluate how you're feeling. Small acts of self-care can end up making a pretty big, positive difference in how you feel overall. It's important not to forget to take care of yourself.

Stress is one of my main causes of anxiety. My family always calls me "a little stress bucket". Everyone knows that being in school is always stressful, and entering the adult world also causes some major headaches. Over the past few months, I've really found that these 5 best practices help me relieve my stress the most.

Drink Water

I used to be absolutely horrible when it came to drinking enough water. Obviously we need water to live, but I know tons of people who always say that it's so hard to remember to drink water. I've noticed a huge difference since I started drinking at least 40 ounces of water a day. My skin is clearer, my energy level is higher, and my body just feels better.

Journaling

Now I know that journaling isn't everyone's cup of tea, but there are so many ways to journal. For me, I just use the Notes app on my phone and I usually write poems. I find that poetry comes really easily for me and it really helps me process all the internal nonsense that is constantly running through my mind. Even if you journal for a couple of minutes a day, you'll start to feel a difference. It's easier to let out your stress on a piece of paper.

Sleep, sleep, sleep

I have always had a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep. However, sleeping is absolutely crucial. You need to be getting enough sleep every night. I know in college it was so hard for me to go to bed at a decent hour depending on how much work I had. Towards the end of my college career, I really tried to focus more on time management so I was able to schedule in getting at least 6-8 hours of sleep.

Meditation

Now this is a fairly new practice for me and at first I didn't think I would like it. I tried out the "Headspace" app which helps guide you through different types of meditation. They even have ones for sleep. I like to do this in the morning right when I get up, and take a couple minutes just to center myself.

Make a Feel-Good Playlist

Music is one of my favorite ways to cheer myself up. I have a few playlists on my phone that I alternate to hype myself up. Sometimes I like to just take a drive and blast my music. It makes me feel so energized and inspired. When I'm feeling really stressed out, I just pop my headphones in and have myself a little solo dance party. It's a great way to relieve stress, get in some exercise, and just make yourself smile.

Stress is something that everyone experiences. It can be really hard to manage sometimes depending on your situation. Whether you're stressed about applying to colleges, finishing that essay, or applying to jobs, these 5 best practices can help improve your mindset. What are your favorite ways to relieve stress?