Somewhere near the bottom, between 'cleaning my room' and 'drafting that college essay'. Am I right?

Self-care was one of those things I'd 'get around to someday'. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that 'someday' never came. It took hitting rock bottom for me to realise I actually mattered and taking care of myself isn't selfish. In fact, it allowed me to be a better, shinier version of myself which helped my relationships, college performance and overall happiness.

Being a millennial in college is hard. We're expected to have a full-time course load and a part-time job and we usually create a side-hustle because our part-time job doesn't allow us to be as creative as we hoped. This all comes before actually having a semblance of a life, such as friendships, dating, learning how to cook and how to manage our finances. Sometimes, I feel like us millennials were just thrown into the deep end and told "good luck!"

It's not surprising our practice of self-care fell by the wayside as we tried to figure out how to be an 'adult' in this big ol' world.

01. Write

Create a blog, Twitter account or Instagram handle. Write. Allow yourself to feel your emotions and move through them in a constructive way. Somedays, I feel a certain way and I can't figure out why until I start writing. The whats and whys flow out of me and it all feels much more real when I see it written out in black and white. 

I started blogging as a way of creating a journal for reflection. That way eight years ago. I've met some of my best friends and had some great experiences through blogging. I wouldn't change it for the world. It has helped me grow as a person, connect with other like-minded people and made me realise that self-care isn't selfish.

If writing online isn't for you - invest in a journal, buy an adult colouring book or start a bullet journal. Find a way to express how you're feeling in a way that feels valid for you.

02. Exercise

But I don't have time to exercise! I barely have time to sleep. I feel you. The thing is, Elle Woods was right when she said: "happy people just don't shoot their husbands". This example may be a little extreme, but exercise releases endorphins and they make you happy. Exercising doesn't have to be a scary crossfit workout or the latest 'make you want to die' exercise. It can be as simple as going for a walk around the block or playing in the park with your dog. I've found that getting outside is half the battle but I always feel 100% better for having done it.

03. Do what you love

I love to read, blog, play The Sims 4 (no shame), exercise and bake, so I make time for those activities. Yes, there are things I 'should be doing' but I would not be happy if I only did those things day in, day out. It's all about balance. Find a hobby, join a book club or gym or social sport, or attend a night class. Hell, put aside some time to just do nothing. 

04. Relax

Easier said than done, especially when you're following a hectic college schedule. Sometimes, you have to force yourself to stop. Even if it's only for half an hour every day. You need that time to reflect, celebrate your accomplishments and recharge. 

05. Go tech-free for a day

Wait, what? We're millennials and students. I'm 90% sure I've never gone a whole day completely technology-free. It's just not in our nature, but it could be in our best interest. I don't know about you, but my phone is constantly going off, I'm always receiving emails and my Fitbit watch is constantly telling me to move my ass. I'm grateful for everything that I have and I appreciate technology absolutely, but it gets overwhelming. And distracting.

Put your phone on DND for a day. Don't watch Netflix. Ignore your inbox. The world won't implode, I promise.

06. Talk it out

College is a unique place to build friendships. Most of the time, you're surrounded by people with the same core interests. Try to talk to someone new in your major classes, even if it's just about how you're perpetually late or how you can't survive without caffeine. Heck, you're in the same class so talk about why it interests you! (Or how you're only in this class because it's a requirement and oh my god, make it stop.) 

New or old, friendships (and romantic relationships) are great modes of practising self-care. They're the people who are supposed to build you up, take care of you, and be your sounding board when you need them. Sometimes, it just takes a simple coffee date with an amazing friend to take you back to your perky, sparkly self!

07. Take time out

I'm an introvert (or ambivert) so being around people 24/7 (especially the same people) really drains my energy. I'm a fairly social person and absolutely love connecting with friends and new people, but it is mentally exhausting. By the end of the week, I'm wanting to spend some time by myself. I don't do it to be rude, I do it to survive. Sometimes being with friends is the answer, sometimes being by yourself is the answer. 

Personally, I find curling up with a good book and a cup of coffee to be the perfect recharge. Find a technique that works for you and make time for it every week! A friend of mine exercises every day as her way to recharge whilst my sister loves taking baths (especially with Lush products). 

There's no right or wrong answer to self-care. It's all about what works for you.

How do you practice self-care? Are you an introvert or extrovert? What did you study in college/university?

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I know people who eat on the train, heat up oatmeal in the work kitchen or count coffee as "breakfast". These "people" used to be me. I didn't have time for breakfast. I was "too busy" to take time out to nourish my body with proper food.

My day would consist of coffee and a banana (because I was #busy), a salad for lunch and approximately 1, 879 calories for dinner. I worked as a kitchen hand, so it wasn't unusual to buy a punnet of chips as my "dinner" and have "second dinner" when my shift ended. I would be sore from standing on my feet all day and tired from studying so I would skip working out, opting for Netflix and chill instead. Needless to say, I was the epitome of health and wellness.

I was permanently tired, my skin was constantly breaking out, and I just felt 'blah' in myself. I wish I could say this was my wake-up call. That happened when I found out I was pregnant.

Suddenly, it wasn't about me anymore and my habits changed - starting with having a healthy breakfast whilst fitting in this "busy millennial" lifestyle.

How did I make it happen?

By using quick and nutritious breakfast recipes (if you can call it that).

01. Chia seed pudding

Do you only have fifteen minutes for breakfast? Good, because I have something that can be ready in ten. This was my ultimate 'go to' breakfast when I was under a serious time-crunch. Chia seeds have major health benefits which is an automatic tick in my book. I would dash into the kitchen and mix some chia seeds, milk, and cacao powder to create a deliciously chocolate-y pudding for breakfast. I would top it with fruit (usually banana, strawberries or raspberries) and go! Seriously. Choose a large (ish) container, mix in your fruit and go!

02. Smoothies

They're the hero of the breakfast world. Have a bunch of random stuff lying around? I'm 89% sure it'll be brilliant in smoothie-form! During summer, I become somewhat of a smoothie addict. I made them for myself. I made them for my son. I made them for my family. My 'go to' smoothie includes a banana, some strawberries, Greek yoghurt, spinach, chia seeds, vanilla paste, cinnamon and ginger, and some oats, just for good measure. It sounds like a lot, but it's just a matter of finding the ingredients and throwing it in! My son's smoothie consists of weetbix, almond flour, milk, a dash of yoghurt, zucchini, banana and some peanut butter or spices, depending on how I feel. Sounds delicious, right?

03. Overnight oats

I bet you saw this one coming from a mile away. I'm a bit of an oatmeal fanatic (especially in autumn and winter!) so that one was always going to make the list. Are you ready for this? It has six ingredients and is super simple! For my overnight oats, I mix oats, cacao, peanut butter, chia seeds, milk, and a dash of plain yoghurt. Pop it in the fridge as you go to bed and you'll wake up to a smooth, creamy, delicious and nutritious breakfast! I mean, have you seen these overnight oat recipes? *drools*

Want to know the best thing about all of the brilliant breakfast ideas in this post? They're all portable! You have absolutely no excuse to skip breakfast. It doesn't have to be some calorie-laden junk fest or some super restrictive (and boring!) affair. That doesn't count as a breakfast. 

Your body needs proper nutrition and fuel to function. Coffee and bananas are great for a while, but that won't help you perform at your peak.

It's all about balance and what works for your body. We're not all made the same. Some people can handle a lot of carbohydrates (curse you!) whilst other bodies can metabolise fat better. It's all about being in tune with your body and giving it what it wants (in moderation and with healthy options). I'm all about the 80/20 life.  I developed a sweet tooth after having my son. Suddenly, I love chocolate, so I add some cacao to my breakfast and away I go! My sweet tooth is satisfied and my diet hasn't been obliterated before 9am. Win-win.

After all, a lifestyle change lasts much longer than a fad diet ever will. Believe me.

What's your breakfast 'go to'? What's your standard coffee order? Are you a brunch person or a happy hour person?