So, school has started back and I am officially exhausted. Every assignment I work on, I ask myself "why did I think it was a good idea to go back for my master's?". Don't get me wrong - I love my program, and I'm learning so much, but it truly is so difficult to work full-time and go to school, too. I'm making it work, I'm getting through it. I'm doing well in both the office and the classroom, but I am truly tired all the time, which can make it really hard to look and feel happy, healthy, and confident. Maybe you're in similar shoes or maybe we're in the same boat, so I wanted to share five things I try to do to make sure I'm remaining happy, healthy, and confident as often as possible (because let's face it, some days won't be 100%).






Low Maintenance Hairstyles

Hi, I'm lazy. So I want to sleep as long as I possibly can before going to work. Which means I'm certainly not waking up early to get ready. I tend to go for low-maintenance hairstyles and no makeup (another reason for good skincare - more on that below). Here are three easy-peasy ways to get my hair looking like I tried. These are three styles I tend to wear in order, as well. (PS. I also only wash it one or two times a week, and really take advantage of dry shampooing.)


1. Straighten it with a middle part. (Days 1, 2)
It's a simple, yet classic style that always looks great.



2. Wrap it while you sleep - instant curls. (Days 3, 4)
Using a headband wrap, wrap one-inch pieces through the headband wrap until it's entirely wrapped. Go to sleep and brush it out in the morning. Easy peasy.



3. High ponytail. (Days 5, 6)
I love a super-high curly pony. Wrap a one-inch piece of hair around the hair-tie for a more put-together look.





Water, water, water

I'm so bad at my water intake, because I really love iced coffee and diet soda, but drinking water throughout the day seriously does major wonders for skin, and for how I'm feeling. I swear. I try to keep a water jug at my desk, so I at least up my water intake while I'm at work. I used to hate water, but it's kind of grown on me. Sparkling water helps too, when I'm looking for something with a little more... dimension.



Working out

Geez, Louise. You knew it was coming. But working out really does make me feel better - it's just doing it in the first place that's hard. I'll be honest, if I don't go to a fitness class at the gym, I've got no clue what I'm doing, so I end up walking in place in front of the tv that evening, but it's better than nothing. I meet my 10,000 step goal more days than not. But the HIIT30 (high intensity interval training for 30 minutes) kicks my butt twice a week, but I feel stronger when I leave (and much weaker the days following, lol). Find something that works for you.











Skincare

Speaking of working out, I sweat like a pig. It's honestly disgusting, but it makes me feel accomplished. When I go to the gym, it's usually at lunch, so I've definitely got to do a little clean up before heading back to the office and meeting with appointments the rest of the day. Plus, I don't usually wear makeup, so it's important to me that I keep my skin clean and moisturized. I love NEUTROGENA® products, because they're inexpensive and classic. Plus, NEUTROGENA® is the #1 Dermatologist recommended Acne Brand, and it's no surprise. Seriously, they haven't failed me yet.









After working out at lunch, I'm lucky enough to have a staff locker room where I can shower and refresh before heading back to the office. If I've got the time, I wrap up my hair and fully shower using the full line of NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit products. The NEUTROGENA® BODY CLEAR® Pink Grapefruit Body Wash is specially developed to treat body breakouts by using maximum strength dermatologist recommended acne medicine Salicylic Acid boosted by oil dissolving MICROCLEAR® Technology, which is honestly fantastic, because I tend to breakout after I workout, especially if I don't freshen up immediately. Like the body wash, NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Face Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub powerfully clears blemishes and blackheads with maximum strength Salicylic Acid acne medicine, and of course a refreshing blast of grapefruit.







If I don't have time (sometimes those 30 minute classes run over), I'll use NEUTROGENA® Pink Grapefruit Cleansing Wipes, which get rid of pore-clogging dirt and oil in one easy step, with no need to rinse. And to give my face a healthy dose of moisture, I finish up with NEUTROGENA® Oil-Free Acne Pink Grapefruit Moisturizer, which combines oil-free hydration with powerful acne medicine, helping to treat and prevent breakouts as it moisturizes.













It was so easy to shop for my NEUTROGENA® Pink Grapefruit products at CVS, because everything was so easy to find, and the sales associates were super friendly and helpful. And with the great deals they've got going on right now, why would anyone want to buy their NEUTROGENA® anywhere else?










Right now, CVS has a heck of a deal going on where you can get a little more than you pay for! First, this week only (starting this past Sunday, September 9), you can buy one NEUTROGENA® Pink Grapefruit product at CVS and get one 50% off! I stopped by on Sunday and picked up a beaucoup of products to keep my skin glowing, and since I spent over $30 on health and beauty, they even gave me an awesome makeup bag full of all kinds of stuff. It's just one of the perks of being a CVS ExtraCare customer! Secondly, if you're an Ibotta user, there's an offer happening right now where you can earn up to $2.00 cash back at CVS on NEUTROGENA® Acne products, while supplies last.




Find your happy

Do what makes you happy. Okay, so you probably have responsibilities, like work, school, parenting, what-have-you. But it's important to take care of yourself, whether that's taking some naps, reading a book, watching tv, getting outside, traveling, etc. Make time for you, even if it's just 30 minutes a day. If you feel happy, it's going to show. So take care of you!