August is slowly coming to an end, and college students know what that means: the beginning of a new semester. As this month begins to wrap up, I have been asking myself, “What have I done to take care of myself this summer?”

In the past year, wellness and implementing a healthy lifestyle have become very important to me. The topic of wellness has become a huge trend over the past few years, especially on TikTok. While this trend has many positive aspects, it can also pressure those looking to live a healthy lifestyle to do so as aesthetically pleasing as possible (think of the “that girl” trend). 

I have found myself under this pressure while trying to implement wellness into my daily life. However, over the past few months, I have learned that it does not matter how it looks, all that matters is how it feels. What works for me, this means getting sunlight early in my day, drinking lots of water, journaling and caring for my skin.  

Over the summer, I started my day by catching some sunlight early in the morning. Not only does this part of my routine help me get up early each day, but it also feels good. I read somewhere online that getting sun in the morning helps with energy and mood, and whether or not science backs that, going outside has really helped me feel more centered throughout my day. Getting outside before the heat is unbearable has been super refreshing too, as I do not feel pressured to get all sweaty to feel good. 

This next method is simple – making sure I am drinking enough water each day. I aim to drink water first thing in the morning to rehydrate my body after a night’s rest. I also bought a cute water bottle to motivate myself to drink more water, as odd as that sounds. It does not have to be a fancy glass with lemon and cucumbers, but finding any way to motivate yourself to drink water works.  

Another way I have been keeping up with wellness has been journaling. I am a little less consistent with this one, but brain-dumping right before bed has never failed to make me feel at least a little bit better. It does not have to just be brain-dumping either; It could be gratitude journaling, short creative pieces or even just small things you think about. You hold the pen, so you decide what you write. Do not worry about your handwriting because this is supposed to be just for you. 

The final way I will be talking about may be geared towards a specific audience, but it really could apply to anybody: having a skincare routine. I personally love having a specific routine for morning and for night.. Since everyone’s skin is different, finding what works for you will probably not look the same as it does online. Once again, you do not need special products or to break the bank, just a little routine that gives you a fresh face to start and end the day. I, without fail, feel ten times better after going through this routine. For me, healthy skin equals a good day

Wellness is an incredibly important part of many lives, including my own. Taking care of yourself is one of the best things you can do, even if it looks different from how it appears on social media. It does not have to be “aesthetic”, it just has to feel good. 

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