As a student, your number one priority is school, right? Well, it’s not that simple.

There are a lot of things that are factors in your academic performance, such as your physical and mental health, your sleep schedule, your personal life, and most of all, your ability to recognize when some things need re-evaluation.

It’s all about the balance between the academics, the social life and the level of physical health.

Maintaining a level of physical health is obviously a strong priority. I’ve always been a believer in the phrase “If you’re sick, you won’t perform well," and it’s true. If you’re sick, you won’t perform well academically or be able to get through your day with the ease that you normally would. Take the initiative to prevent yourself from getting sick by sleeping, eating well and making a schedule. Know when you need to schedule in breaks, too. We all need some time to just do nothing. Having time to clear your mind and reflect will do wonders for your physical health.

One thing that will cause changes in your physical health is stress. You’ll sleep less, you’ll feel jittery and maybe even show signs of depression if you’re too stressed. This is where we connect the dots between physical and mental health.

Sure, grades are important, but when scheduling out your work or class schedule, think about the other stuff, too. Think about your commitments to clubs, sports, friends, family and personal relationships. Consider the big picture. By doing this, you’ll know not to put too much on your plate all at once.

This is super important because even if you do well academically, college is nothing without a well-rounded experience.

You’ll make mistakes along the way. Some relationships will last long beyond your college years, and others will fade quickly as you discover that not everybody is meant to be in your inner circle.

However, you’ll make some amazing memories. You’ll probably meet the people who will one day stand next to you at your wedding, and you’ll laugh about that one time you all did something crazy ten years down the line.

If you just give yourself time to explore the world beyond the campus, you’ll discover that there’s more to do than party, and furthermore, there’s a lot of ways to succeed academically without doing everything on your own. Friends, clubs and organizations are also a resource.

So go out and explore the area around your campus. Join an organization that relates to your interests. Make new friends and discover who you want to be in your adult life because college is nothing if you sit in your room, do homework and don’t make the most of these precious years.

Go out there, and find your balance.