Avocados, kale, chia seeds, yoga, and self-care. All of these items fit into the health craze that has spread across the internet like wildfire in the past few years. I used to be someone who mocked people that took hot yoga classes, ate smoothie bowls, and hit the gym only to take selfies of themselves hitting the gym with an inspirational caption. That is, until I got tired of treating my body like garbage and knew I had to make some changes in regards to my view on health.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably heard the term self-care a million times, but may have little to no concept of what it actually means. Basically, self-care is anything you intentionally do to care for your physical, mental and emotional health. Self-care is unique for everyone, but definitely necessary, especially in stressful situation. I don’t know about you, but for me, college can sometimes feel like one big stressful situation. In these circumstances, I don’t have a ton of time to do a complete self-care routine to de-stress. Here are a few things you can do when you’re short on time but need to take a few minutes to unwind.

Sweat it out

Exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself in terms of self-care. This doesn’t have to mean running three miles at the gym, or taking an intense fitness class. It can honestly mean just making the commitment to take a walk after class twice a week, or following a stretching video on Youtube every night. Taking a break from school work to engage your body is super beneficial for your physical and mental health, and can help make you feel accomplished.

Let there be light

If you don’t have time to venture outside because you’ve been buried under a pile of homework, take a second to open your windows. Letting fresh air in can seriously improve your mindset and lease on life. Fresh air cleans the lungs while also bringing more oxygen to your cells and helping you to release airborne toxins. Sign me up!

Hit the showers

I know what you’re thinking. Should a staple of human hygiene really be considered a step towards self-care? Yes, it should. No matter who you are, showers or baths can help shake out the cobwebs and make you feel more on top of your life. Especially if you use a nice smelling body wash or shampoo.

You made your bed, now lie in it

Making your bed as soon as you wake up is a good idea for so many reasons. It literally takes two minutes of your time. As soon as you do it, you’ve already accomplished your first task of the day. Everyone could use that extra boost of confidence and pride for the day, and before you know it, you’ve completed every task on your list. Plus when you get home, your bed will be so much more inviting after a productive day!

Organize your butt off

Take a good, hard look at your workspace. If it’s just generally a cluttered mess, you should take time to sort through that garbage. Declutter, sort, and chuck anything you don’t need. Nothing can make you more productive than a clean desk. Plus, when you’re sitting down to write an essay that might just break your spirit, a nice and organized workspace will give your soul a much-needed boost.

Don’t nap your life away

Now don’t get me wrong, sleep is absolutely essential for life in general. However, sleeping all day just straight up does more harm than good. By all means, take your naps! But, usually 30 minutes should be enough to get you going. Anything more than an hour will leave you fuzzy, dehydrated, and probably a little bit grumpy.

You get what you give

Volunteer for about 30 minutes to an hour a week in order to clear your mind and make yourself feel good about giving back. Nothing beats the reward of having helped someone in need. Plus, you will leave feeling ready to complete the other items on your to-do list with renewed motivation.

I hope these ideas have given you a little bit of insight into self-care and all the good it can do. I know that in times of stress, it can seem like all you can do is complete the tasks before you. Try your best to make time for your own health, and you will absolutely feel the benefits.