Being a sophomore in college, I still have a long way to go. I'm a quarter of the way through, yet I feel as though I learned enough about myself and my mental health to suffice for a full four years.

College is hard.

I'm not just talking classes, I'm talking the whole rigamarole. Making friends, fitting in on campus, finding time for yourself, and living with other people. They are just the tips of the mental health iceberg. I feel as though sometimes we don't give ourselves enough credit for being in college. It's freaking hard, and anyone who tells you differently is wrong.

So, while juggling classes, friends, extracurricular activities, maybe a job, and whatever other commitments we have, we have to find time to check in on our own mental health. Time and time again, mental health is overlooked by college students who simply believe they don't have the time to worry about such matters. They're too busy.

No one is ever too busy for mental health.

Wake up in the morning, and instead of immediately panicking about classes or events you have to get through that day, take a second to breathe. Wake up and do something that calms you down. For me, that's spending ten minutes watching my favorite shows or going on YouTube. Do something for yourself.

Once your day has to get going, make sure you're doing things to motivate yourself throughout the day. No matter how boring that Philosophy class is or how excruciatingly monotonous your professor sounds at 8 A.M. on a Monday, keep a bit of motivation in the back of your head.

I like to reward myself for doing literally anything, no matter how small, throughout the day. If I don't, I will quickly fall into a bad state of mind. For example, I'll tell myself that if I can get through this hour and fifteen-minute lecture, I'll go back to my apartment and get Playa Bowls as a reward.

Too many times, we overlook treating ourselves and putting ourselves first. It's easier said than done, but it's definitely something we should all be working towards.

Picture your loved ones. Maybe a boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, sibling, whoever! Picture them going through your daily routine morning to night. You want them to take a break and reward themselves, right? Why is that? Because what you are doing is hard!

No matter how easy a certain class can be, adjusting to college even as seniors can be hard. We are dealing with keeping ourselves on schedule, keeping ourselves motivated, eating right, exercising, making friends, and the list goes on and on.

Aside from rewarding ourselves and simply thanking our bodies for dealing with what we put them through, it's important to do things that calm you down and keep you from exploding on your busiest days. Keeping a planner and tracking what's due when and what your priorities are will help clear your mind. I know me, personally, I can't get anything done unless I see it written down on paper.

Let's be honest, that feeling of crossing something off of your to-do list is therapeutic.

Surround yourself with people who make you want to succeed. Having someone around who simply brings you down is terrible for your mental health. We tend to take after people who surround us. Surround yourself with happy and motivated people. This will keep your head clear.

My final point I want to make is to simply remember that you deserve some TLC. Reflect on how you felt throughout the day before you go to bed and think about how you can improve for the next day. Thank yourself for putting up with yourself.

Finally, be the best you can be, and always remember to take a step back and realize just how important you are.