A Beautiful Ray of Sunshine

+ I am of the belief that the environment in which we surround ourselves is a direct expression of our internal processes. You would be surprised how something as seemingly simple as cleaning up your room will improve your mental state. Feelings of confusion or disorganization are often exacerbated, if not caused by, clutter and dirtiness in our homes. Additionally, the 15-30 minutes you spend with yourself while cleaning, thinking, and listening to music also promotes mental clarity. Open windows, let in sunshine, burn scented candles or incense.

+ Prioritize your hair’s moisture when washing, cleaning is easy and a lot simpler than we make it seem, avoid stripping your hair of healthy oils for the sake of ‘squeaky clean’ hair. Condition your hair before shampoo, it helps maintain your hair’s natural oils before shampooing. Shampoo the roots only, the excess will clean the rest of your hair as you wash. Seal the moisture in your hair by using an oil. Dry your hair with an old t-shirt, not a towel, to avoid over-drying and breakage.

+ Write down important information. Passwords and other login info, the days you start and leave a job (necessary, trust me), write to-do lists, grocery lists with pricing of items you frequently buy, keep track of your mensural cycle if you have one, last doctors appointments, etc.

+ Use Sunday’s as your reset day. Meal prep, deep clean your home, organize your backpack, do a face mask, workout, stretch (I do yoga), recharge all of your electronics, set weekly goals, plan your Monday, do any assignments you’ve yet to finish (even if you still have time, you know the upcoming week will bring in more homework, assignments, and studying so it’s best to get as much done as you can before it piles up), do anything you need to do to have a fresh week.

1. Organization and discipline are two totally different things. Being organized, in whatever aspect of your life, takes discipline and drive. Organization is a daily routine, and developing the discipline to keep yourself in that routine and thrive in it will carry you well in the coming year. Get a journal/notebook/calendar. Decorate it as you wish or not at all–it IS for you after all, so do what you think works best. Set a reminder in your phone or something within view that reminds you to check your planner if need be, and set aside 5+ minutes to do so. This will help you get in the swing of things :)

2. Eat as healthy as you possibly can, but let’s be real, chocolate, candy, chips, etc. gets the best of ANYONE. I say this because I feel it’s best to stress, especially in the coming year, that we’re not perfect. Feed your brain fruit, healthy grains, vegetables, calcium and iron-rich foods, etc., but it’s more than okay to go for that chocolate bar every now and then.

3. Sleep. Netflix will save where you last left off on Stranger Things. Hulu will remember where you were at on your movie. Sleep will not. You will NEVER be able to make up for lost sleep, no matter how hard you try. So set yourself a set bedtime that will get you the best amount of sleep that you’ll need to function optimally the next day. Shoot for 7+ hours. Your body needs rest. Put the laptop and phone away, meditate, count sheep, or whatever it is that will help you sleep…and do so. I can’t stress how much sleep affects mental and physical health, and overall function. Don’t take it for granted.

4. There’s a difference between challenging yourself and overwhelming yourself. I am throwing this phrase at you guys in the form of glitter and positive energy as we speak. This is SOOOOOO!!!! IMPORTANT!!!! Challenging yourself is great, but it has its limits. If you want to take an AP class, by all means do so. If you’re planning on taking 4 at one time, check yourself and ask yourself, “Combined with my other commitments, will this overwhelm me?” It’s a simple question, but it’s a very important one. In college, keep in mind the classes you need to take and how many credit hours you think you can feasibly take on. Your mental health is so important, please don’t wear your pretty selves down ✨🌸

5. Give yourself something to look forward to everyday. It can be big, or small. But I’ve found that finding something to look forward to the next day, whether it’d be cracking open a new book, watching a new video your favorite youtuber put out, making a nice breakfast, etc. can really go a long way. We all need a little motivation to get through the day. It’s in the little things, trust me.

6. Find a hobby. Hobbies are so important. They’re great coping mechanisms and ease the stress of work, school, etc. Take some time to find what you’re interested in and start small. Try scrapbooking, or maybe join a fun club on campus. If you’re into cooking, look up some recipes you wouldn’t normally try and try it! Get funky! Take a dance class or go to they gym. Find what suits you. It will help you in the long run.

7. Love yourself. This is easier said and done, obviously, but promoting a positive mental image of yourself is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Cut yourself some slack. It sounds so cheesy, but go look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself one thing you love about yourself. Do it every morning. Or, write it down in a journal or something. Say it to yourself on the bus. Hang with people that make you feel good about yourself and add value to your life. Do things that make you happy. Listen to new music, reward yourself with a new outfit. You guys are all gorgeous ass human beings and I want nothing but the greatest of self-love for you guys ❤️❤️

8. ...and love others, too. Remember your family, and your friends. They can be your greatest support system. Spend as much time with them as possible. Check in with your friends, hang out with them, be there for them. Be attentive at the dinner table with your family, engage in discussion. Take time to check in on your siblings. If you find yourself liking someone and it turns into a budding relationship, assess if the person will add to your happiness and that it is healthy. Also determine if you’ll be able to provide the time, energy, and care that goes into a relationship among the other commitments in your life. If check, check, and check, by all means go ahead. Have a blast 😎😇