Kia ora, Billie readers! It’s been a while since I’ve jumped on here, and I’ll tell you exactly why! I’m sure I’m not alone in experiencing the massive end-of-year burnout that seems to be common among the majority of students - assignments start to pile up, exams are fast approaching, and the only thing that’s on your mind are your plans for the holidays… It becomes increasingly harder to focus, and even more difficult to find any source of motivation to complete any assignments or start thinking about exam study. 

In times like these, I find myself struggling to think of ways to pull myself out of the slump. Luckily, being an experienced burnout sufferer, I have found a great friend in - you guessed it - some good old fashioned self care. 

I bet you’ve heard it a million times, but often the best thing you can do when you’re thinking ‘Man, I could really use a break’ is to give yourself that break! So, with that being said, here are my top 10 things to do to feel refreshed, clear-headed, and beautiful (inside and out), during some guilt-free me-time!

1. List 3 things you are grateful for.

I know that sounds really lame, truly, I do. But I find that it genuinely makes me feel a lot less overwhelmed when I take some time to think about things that lift me up instead of bringing me down. After thinking of a few things, I find my head is much clearer and I’m ready to take on whatever it is I’m procrastinating! This is also a great thing to incorporate into your daily routine for a bit of mindfulness!

2. Have the shower.

You know what I mean - there’s a world of difference between your ordinary shower and *the* shower (also referred to as the Hot Girl Shower, if you prefer that term). When taking *the* shower, luxury and self-care are paramount. I’m talking exfoliating, hair masks, breaking out the fancy moisturiser or skincare afterward, the whole nine! Nothing makes you feel more ready to tackle something big than feeling like you’ve really taken care of yourself physically.

3. Go outside.

Another thing you’ve probably heard a million times! But really, sometimes the cure to stress is literally just some deep breaths of cool, fresh air. And, especially as it starts warming up (although it is currently snowing where I live…), getting some Vitamin D in each day will make serious improvements to your mindset. Even a walk around the block could do you a world of good.

4. Do some light exercise.

Or heavy, if you’d prefer - though personally, I’d definitely be sticking with light! You don’t need heaps of equipment or access to a gym if you don’t have those things, there are tons of great YouTube home workouts that are equipment-free but still give you such a sense of accomplishment when you’ve finished them! It doesn’t have to be long, either - even five minutes of movement might bring about the change you need. 

5. See what your friends are up to.

Whether you want to talk about what’s on your mind, or honestly would rather some solid distraction, I find that there’s barely anything that hanging out with a friend won’t solve. If you’re worried about schoolwork (speaking from experience here), you could even have a little study session with a friend who takes the same subjects as you (which, let’s be honest, will turn into a big gossipy catchup… but at least you tried!).

6. Read a book chapter.

Taking a break from the screens, whether it’s your laptop, phone, or TV, can be super refreshing for the mind. Plus, what’s better than tucking into a good book? In terms of Spring/Summer reads, I’d opt for a Sally Rooney novel, but to be fair I’d probably say that year-round…

7. Have the drink/snack.

Again, you know what I mean, right? For me, *the* drink is coffee - when I sit down and have a coffee, it’s a genuine highlight of the day and moment of mindfulness in my mornings. I get that not everyone is a coffee person, so maybe you’re a smoothie gal, or a hot choccy type - or maybe you’re feeling peckish and would prefer a fancy snack, like avo toast or a fruit bowl. Either way, what I mean by *the* drink or snack is one that you consume with no distractions, one that allows you to have a moment to sit with your thoughts, and one that feeds your mind, your body, or both!

8. Do your nails.

In a similar vein as having *the* shower, taking care of your nails is something that might feel insignificant, but personally has the ability to completely change my outlook on life - a fresh mani/pedi just makes me feel so much more put-together and gives me a strange burst of motivation to get things done! I think it’s that ‘girlboss business woman’ feeling I get from having clean, painted nails, anyone else? I basically always do my own from home, but definitely go and get them done if you feel like going the extra mile!

9. Do something kind for someone.

Going out of your way to be kind and show someone you care about them has the power to completely make their day, and yours, too! For some ideas, buy your mum a coffee, tell your friend their new hairdo looks amazing, spend some one-on-one time with a sibling - you literally can’t go wrong.

10. Try some mindfulness activities.

The Headspace app is a favourite of mine for something like this, but YouTube will have some awesome ones, too! This is something that might be a bit out of your comfort zone (it was for me, too), but it’s a simple thing to try, and if you’re not into it, sweet (you can try one of these nine other things instead, hehe)! If you are, it’s a nice easy thing to add into your routine that can really make a difference to your daily mindset.

There you have it! 10 new things to try this week to kick burnout to the curb and feel beautiful, inside and out. Happy nourishing, Billie reader! <3