HEALTH

Hey, did you remember to finish up your Spanish project *and* proofread your English essay? Make sure you brush up on your formulas for that Chemistry test in a few days. Also, your permit test is on Friday. Can your workload get any heavier?

Yes, grades are often the top priority. However, that doesn't mean you have to place your mental health on the back burner. Self-care improves your mental and emotional health. It saves you from burning out or breaking down after a long week (or even a day) of school. Self-care plays a huge role in living out a healthy lifestyle, but it can be tough to squeeze in a 30-minute mud mask into your overscheduled Google Cal. 

When you feel stressed, stuck and totally yuck, it's time for some overdue self-care. Try these 5-minute self-care ideas to destress and chillax during a busy week!

Get ready to chill out, bb!

Lean back with a cool, under-eye mask 

Sleep deprivation and school work tend to go hand-in-hand. To give your eye bags a little glow up (and allow yourself a few moments of sweet, self-care peace), whip out a chill under-eye mask from your fridge. These masks only take a few minutes to moisturize and rejuvenate the thin skin under your eyes, which makes them the perfect mini-facial in between school and soccer practice. Give these Rested Hydrogel Under Eye Patches ($4) a try!

@mymasquebar

Listen to ASMR 

ASMR stands for an "autonomous sensory meridian response." This complicated string of words means that certain noises (usually soft and calming sounds) can give your brain a soothing, tingly feeling. If you are already an avid ASMR listener, you have experienced how relaxing it is to lay back and hone in on some super satisfying sounds. ASMR gives our ears the reins for a while, which gives our minds some blissful TLC. Here is a quick, 5-minute ASMR video—grab your headphones, it's time to chilllll out.   

Meditate to your fave, chill song

Meditation calms the mind's anxiety and releases the body's tension, which allows for a total and complete destress sesh. Not everyone vibes with quiet meditation, so we recommend a different method for meditating: play a soothing song, close your eyes and focus on your breath. You can turn on a chill Taylor Swift song or listen to calming Lo-fi music. When you meditate, try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth.

@michelle.harris.international 

Practice relaxing yoga

Yoga is a self-care staple. Arguably the most relaxing form of exercise out there, yoga is perf to practice during a stressful day. The best part is that you can yoga-it-up for as long (or little) as you would like! Let's not forget about all the endorphins that follow (even from a speedy yoga practice). Try this 5-minute yoga video to stretch out the test nerves between study seshes!

Journal or doodle out your school stress

We *heart* journaling because it can take on so many different forms. Take all your overwhelming emotions to the page and write or draw out how you feel. If writing out your emotions isn't effective for you, try doodling fluffy cats or writing a silly poem to cheer yourself up after a long school day. Grab some looseleaf tea and journal it all out, bestie!

Tag us in your self-care selfies on Instagram @girlslifemag!

Top image @fn_ction I Slider image @spascriptions.australia I GIFs via GIPHY

by Cara Lamina | 12/16/2021