Many students experience struggles with finding time or ways to have a good self-care routine, and they also often don’t realize how much it could help them. According to the National Institutes of Health, “Self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.” It can also help reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.

When it comes to self-care, many people just don’t know where to start. You don’t need to change your entire routine, you can just add in a few new habits at a time to benefit your mental health.

One simple way to practice self-care is to make sleep a priority, most students do not sleep enough. I asked 5 students if they get at least 7 hours of sleep every night, and only one said yes. Although it can be hard to get to sleep earlier, it has many benefits. Getting enough sleep helps regulate your mood, improves your brain function, and of course gives you energy through out the day. To get more sleep, try going to bed at the same time every night, limit caffeine, and try to exercise every day.

Another way to do self-care is to set goals for yourself, no matter how small they are. They can be goals like going to the gym, getting good grades, saving money for something you want to buy, lowering your screen-time, or even bigger goals like getting into a certain school, or having your dream career. Having goals can improve your confidence, give you motivation, provide you with direction, and make you more productive.

You can also practice self-care by just doing things that are fun or relaxing to you. Many students feel like they have no time or energy to have hobbies due to school and work, but it’s important to make time for it. Some healthy things you can do for fun include reading, going out with friends or family, painting, baking or cooking, or even just finding a show to watch. You should try to include an activity that’s fun or relaxing to you in every day.

Although most teenagers aren’t very interested in eating healthy, it’s another good way to practice self-care. You don’t need to eat 100 percent healthy all the time, but just eating at least one healthy meal a day and drinking more water can have many benefits, such as giving you better skin and hair, a lower risk of cancer, better focus, more energy, and a stronger immune system.