At the time that I'm typing this, it's Friday, which means I've officially made it through my first week of being back at school. I know for some it may not be something to celebrate, but for me it is, because I've learned a lot in only 5 days. So I wanted to share those lessons with you all in case any of you need some words of encouragement or helpful reminders to carry you through this spring semester.

1. Take it one day, class, hour or minute at a time. I've tried this mercilessly before, but it's never really stuck until now. I've had to get used to a new schedule where sometimes, my evenings aren't free or that I've already got tons of homework by day 3. It's different and may be difficult, but it's not impossible if I take each thing as it comes along.

2. Sleep is essential. Seriously. I didn't listen to my own advice until Thursday night actually, but it's still very important. I only got 5 hours of sleep one night and seriously regretted it the next day. If that ever happens to you, you're allowed to take a nap. At least 20 minutes can recharge you like no cup of coffee will. Oh, speaking of caffeine, if you have trouble falling/staying asleep, you may want to limit the caffeine consumption -- it can mess with your body/brain by keeping you jittery or restless even late at night. All in all, getting at least 7-8 hours is essential if you want the rest of your day to go a lot better.

3. If you take care of your body/mind, they will take care of you. Sleep is one thing, but also fueling your body with healthier foods, drinking enough water and also making sure you take time to relax/de-stress. If you start listening to your body, you can become more aware of what you're doing that's good (and fix what's not-so-good) for it.

4. It's okay to cry or scream or whatever you need to feel. I still struggle with this. But you can't let your emotions control you. If you keep it all inside, it'll just make it worse. So if you can't find a time to cry (like if you're in class or at work or something like that), then at least find something to put your mind at ease or distract yourself with -- like watching a TV show, doodling, journaling or reading a book. And yes, actually forcing yourself to do homework or pay attention to your lecture can help too.

5. Your true friends will always support you. And don't forget that your family is there for you no matter what. Talking with friends and keeping in touch with my mom and sister has been especially helpful for me this first week. It's so important to socialize and not let yourself be holed up in your room solely doing homework or sleeping. It shouldn't be all work, all the time, you know? You're allowed to have some fun too.