Finals are over, classes have ended, and it's the time where everyone heads home for the summer to get some much-needed rest and relaxation. But instead of laying around the house for three months, summer is the perfect time to adopt new habits that you'll take with you for the upcoming school year. Despite the fact that a month of summer vacation has already flown by, it's never too late to better yourself!

1. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine.

During the school year, the excuse "I should go work out but I really have to study" is all too real, especially because in reality you're probably not going to study, you're going to scroll through Facebook memes and watch four more episodes of your favorite Netflix show. Exercising isn't just good for the body, but it's good for the mind and soul. As cliche as it may sound, nothing cures a bad mood better than hitting the gym. Whether it be running, lifting, swimming, or even dancing, staying active is probably the healthiest habit you could adopt for yourself.

2. Sink your teeth into a good book.

I've never had the patience to sit down and read a book until I found one that I couldn't look away from; one that I can actually relate to. Currently, the two that I've fallen in love with are "No More Faking Fine" by Esther Fleece and "The Opposite of Loneliness" by Marina Keegan. But reading is another one of those things that keeps your mind agile but likewise is good for the soul (cheesy again, I know).

3. An apple a day keeps the doctor away!

These first three tips might seem a little obvious, but you'd be surprised how often they're overlooking in a person's day to day life. Eating healthy is one of those things that always troubles college students but you'd be surprised how delicious and affordable eating healthy can be. I know McDonald's drive-thru can be hard to pass up, but next time, try some grilled chicken and avocado for a change and see how much better you feel!

4. Catch up on some Z's.

Summer means no more all-nighters studying for exams, completing projects, and writing papers! You know what this means...you get more sleep! Getting the correct amount of sleep every night is a crucial part of leading a healthy lifestyle and summer time is the perfect opportunity to do so. You'd be surprised how good of a mood you'll be in when you wake up after a full eight hours of sleep. Unreal.

5. Smile more, worry less.

Now I don't know about you guys, but this is my biggest goal for this summer. I know it's much easier said than done to not worry about things in your life that may or may not be in your control. But I guarantee you if you focus on the things that make you happy instead of the things that stress you out, it'll be a total game changer.

6. Get rid of the toxic people in your life.

Negativity can take such a toll on you and who you are as a person even though you might not even see that it's happening. I've experienced first-hand a lot of toxic people in my life and when I finally realized that putting blood, sweat, and tears into someone who couldn't care less about me wasn't worth it, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. It's not healthy to let such people consume your life and it's certainly not fair to you, being the fantastic human that you are. It's really true when they say that positive things happen to positive people. So surround yourself with people who bring you up and those who inspire you to be the best version of yourself at all times.

7. Focus on yourself.

Whether you're confused about a relationship, a friendship, or your future, setting time aside to be alone with your thoughts can give you some much needed, unbiased clarity. Especially when it comes to relationships, it's so important to know yourself before putting all of your time and energy into another person because you may start to lose your own identity in them. I don't mean to say that all relationships are bad, I'm only trying to say that you should be comfortable with who you are before jumping into something. Ed Sheeran has it right when he said that before you love somebody else, you have to love yourself.