You have an essay due Wednesday and a quiz on Friday. On top of that, you have sports and clubs to manage along with your homework assignments due tomorrow.

You are always busy trying to complete everything on your schedule. There is so much for you to do but so little time. You do everything with the intention of being a better student with good grades, but have you ever stopped and asked yourself, “what about me?”

The American Psychological Association highlights that in 2015, 37% of women reported having high levels of stress, while 31% of men claimed the same.

There are many ways self-care affects one’s physical, emotional, and mental health. To rightfully manage your health, you need to make self-care one of your top priorities.

In a world that constantly demands more from adolescents, it becomes difficult to take time for one’s self. However, it is not impossible to find a careful balance.

When creating a routine for yourself in regards of self-care, it is important to understand that every individual’s self-care practices are different in order to accommodate and fit other priorities.

Improving your self-care does not have to cost money or take a lot of time. You can do tasks which take only fifteen minutes. Taking a walk, meditation, and reading are good ways to improve self-care. By making these activities habitual, you get to connect with yourself more and develop new hobbies.

Setting limits for yourself is a form of self-care that can improve your quality of life. There are times when you have to put yourself first and say no to other tasks. Taking on too many things can negatively affect your sleep and eating habits.

Next time you catch yourself stressing over everything life throws your way, or you are tangled up in a web of responsibilities, take the time to do something for you, because you deserve it.

– Citlali Perez