It might be from the lack of water I drink or the amount of sugar I eat, but migraines seem to have become more of a routine to me. Often times when I do have one, I’m forced to hide away in the darkness or even lose my lunch. Neither of these is fun, trust me. So, if you’re like me and sometimes feel like someone just hit you in the head with a baseball bat, keep reading.

1. DRINK WATER!

Drinking water is probably the best thing you can do for yourself and can fix practically all of your problems. You’re practically a flower, and without water, you’ll just wilt and feel terrible. So do yourself a favor and drink up buttercup.

2. Reduce Your Stress

I know that telling someone not to stress themselves out about this is like telling a baby not to cry, but go with me on this one. A little stress is okay for you, but once you cross the line from a little to a whole lot, I can tell you now it won’t be pretty. By reducing your stress you can reduce how tense you are.

3. Cut Down on the Caffeine

Unfortunately, this does include coffee. Even though you might be inclined to drink 7 cups of coffee while studying for midterms, also be careful of it. However, you also shouldn’t go cold turkey because that can also give you a killer migraine.

4. Turn off the Lights

When you have a migraine, lights just seem to be your worst enemy and even appear incredibly brighter. One of the easier things you can do is to turn off all lights and put your phone away. It’ll give your brain a chance to relax.

5. Massage Your Neck and Temples

You might not be a professional masseuse, but at least try because this always seems to minimize my migraine. By adding pressure to your temples and neck it can “improve blood flow and soothe tension headaches.”

6. Grape Juice

No, I am not talking about wine. This beverage always makes me feel like a kid again, which I love. Grape juice is also considered an “excellent pain reliever” according to multiple sources.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

I’m not going to lie; this is one of the worst things I have ever tasted. Even though it feels like it’s burning your insides, it does a lot to help your body. This includes: relieving migraines, relieving nausea, curbs your appetite while breaking down fat, lowers blood pressure, prevents flu and stomach illnesses and many more. This stuff is literally a cure in a bottle.

8. Get a Little Chilly

Personally, when I put an ice pack on my head/neck, I feel like it’s freezing the pain. Anytime I have a migraine, I always look in my freezer for something to put on my head. Whether it be a frozen pork chop or a bag of peas, it feels amazing.

9. Pop a Pill or Two

Whether it be Advil or Excedrin, taking a pill can help a lot. My go-to is usually Excedrin Extra Strength because something about “extra strength” makes me feel like it’ll be gone faster than you can say “ouch.” However, it does have about the same amount of caffeine as a cup or two of coffee in a couple of pills, so I wouldn’t recommend taking them right before bed.

Always remember that even though you have a killer migraine, it will go away eventually! Don’t forget to take care of yourself now in order to have a better future.