Summer is usually a happier time for most people, but the months leading up to it can sometimes be complete torture, and we do it to ourselves.

By torture, I mean both physical and mental abuse towards your appearance. Stay healthy, make sure you are eating right, but don't stop eating altogether. There is a difference between making a healthy change in your life rather than destroying it.

Stop letting summer stress you out.

It is a break from classes, homework, and yes stress, or at least it should be. Let this be a time for you to engulf yourself in the things you love and are not able to do during the semester. Summer is not all about the beach. Yes, the beach is sometimes one of the best parts of summertime, but there isn't a sign that says you must have a Victoria's Secret model's body or you cannot enter. Be happy with yourself, I know that is easier said than done.

Try something new this year, make a list of things you are going to be happy about this summer that is not physical appearance.

Go to the beach and stop feeling insecure, no one came there to stare or judge you. I have seen so many people dread summertime or skip beach trips just because of their insecurities. Truth is you are missing out on memories you can never get back.

Summer goes by quickly. Enjoy it, make the most of it.

Don’t let trivial things stop you from having one of the best summers of your life. If you realize you are constantly miserable because you are working out too hard, or barely eating, you are not doing yourself any favors.

Working out should not be as miserable as it is often made out to be.

Know your limits, make a routine you can handle and stop comparing yourself to social media gym-goers or the mainstream fitness industry. Also, understand that you will not get extreme results if you have just started at the gym a month or two before summer, but don’t let that stop you from going.

Start now and continue forever.

The more you go, the easier it becomes. There are a lot of days you will not feel like going, go anyway. If you make the gym a miserable place by overworking yourself for a “summer body” the less chance you have of actually sticking to it.

Love yourself this summer, set healthy goals for next summer and always do what makes you happy.

If you find yourself being your worst enemy these next few months, take a step back and change it. Confidence is beautiful and so are you.