As AP exams and finals quickly approach, it is easy to get caught up in the stress of studying. To combat that, it is important that we remain taking care of ourselves by practicing self care. As many people think, self care is simply doing things like taking baths, putting on a face mask, or doing some sort of thing to enhance your appearance. While this may be true, there are many other forms of self care other than just what comes to mind. Here are some tips to help practice some much needed self care in the midst of studying for exams.

A fun way to redirect your mind to something else is by baking or cooking something. Providing yourself with food and an easy way to relax yourself is a perfect form of self care. By making anything from cookies to pancakes, just doing this simple task can help to relieve stress by also giving you good food to refuel your brain.

Another great way to practice self care could be getting fresh air. When studying, it is easy to stay stuck indoors for long periods of time, forgetting about the importance of taking breaks and going outside. Especially with the weather warming up, simply going outside and taking a short walk or sitting down can immensely help with stress, providing a different environment and giving you some Vitamin D, boosting your mood.

Starting a new TV show or movie can also be very beneficial in terms of self care. Although it may not seem like there is time to do this, just watching a short episode of a series or taking time out to watch a short movie can bring you some fun to your day and gives your mind a break from all of the studying. This can allow you to relax and take your mind off of the stress.

Like mentioned before, a typical but beneficial way to practice self care can be by taking a relaxing bath, shower, or doing some sort of skincare to relieve stress. A shower or bath can help to relieve tension in your muscles. Doing skincare can overall help you to acknowledge and care for yourself, making you feel better after a long and stressful day.

A final self care tip is to make sure to schedule breaks into your day. According to Cornell University, by taking breaks, your brain can retain information easier, increase productivity and increase your energy when studying. It is better to give your brain a rest than attempting to cram information into it.