I have a confession. I don't really love myself. I don't even really like myself. Here's why:

1. I'm a perfectionist but also a procrastinator. I have ADHD and Bipolar II, which means I'm either hyper-focused or I spend too much of my time watching "Scandal" and look at clothes online that I'm too poor to buy.

2. I feel like my self-worth is tied to how other people perceive me. If other people think I'm funny, I think I'm funny. If other people think I'm smart, I think I'm smart. If other people think I'm pretty, I think I'm pretty.

3. I don't look past my physical appearance to value and cherish the person I am inside. In a world where looks seem to matter before everything else, I'm guilty of spending too much time perceiving how other people view my beauty.

I could go on forever on the reasons that self-love is so hard for me, but I'm also trying to work on not hating myself. Here's some self-love practices that I'm trying:

1. Sleep.

Sleep is so important. Getting four hours of sleep a night is NOT GOOD for your body. I've already slept through my 8:00 AM's twice this semester. If you know me, you know that I always wake up, even though I'm not a morning person. If you don't sleep, you'll probably also get sick. Your immune system gets petty and decides that you'll get start feeling like crap, even on top of all of the reasons that you're already stressed and don't have time to sleep.

Get more than four hours a night. Trust me.

2. Eat.

Yes, again, this seems obvious, but I know that I often forget to eat or don't prioritize meals. Vitamin deficiencies are no joke. I'm anemic, which means I feel like I'm going to pass out a lot and lose circulation. Even if every meal isn't the healthiest, try to take into account what your body NEEDS instead of what you're craving because you're going to binge due to stress.

3. What you look like doesn't matter.

What other people think you look like doesn't matter. There is so much more to you than what is on the surface. I'll give you some examples of what I say to myself, even if I don't always believe it.

I made it to college, and even though my GPA dropped a little, that's okay.

I am hard-working.

I am kind.

I chose my major because I like it, not because of what other people expect of me.

My expectations are the only ones that matter.

It's okay to rest and take time for myself. I deserve it. I deserve it.

Even if you don't believe a single word, fake it 'til you make it.

4. It's okay to take time for yourself.

I promise that you can take a few hours to take a bath or work out or whatever you need to do to relax. That schoolwork isn't going anywhere.

5. It's okay to get help if you need it.

College is so, so hard. It's kind of like getting dropped into a chemistry lab and told to dehydrate an alcohol when you're an English major. Tutoring is there. Office hours are there. Counseling services are there. Take advantage of the resources available to you.

You aren't weak for doing what is best for you and your mental health.

I know that all of these things sound hard if you're anything like me. And that's okay. Even if you just can't bring yourself to practice any of these things right now, keep them in mind when you're ready. Don't let yourself crash and burn when you already have a seatbelt and a fire extinguisher.