As finals loom across the horizon, I kept feeling the need to write this article. This is advice I tell myself all of the time - finals or not - and thought that it would be a good idea to put my thoughts into words in case other people need to hear this too.

In a society where every life event, relationship, and even meal is captured on social media and laid out for the entire world to see, it is easy to forget that for the most part, we only see the highlight reels of other people's lives. It's not hard to feel inadequate when it feels like everyone else your age is doing so much better than you are. In reality, no one really knows what they are doing, and they probably feel just as lost and left behind as you.

You are allowed to have bad days. You are allowed to fall apart, to cry, to have a breakdown. You are allowed to feel vincible, to feel mortal, to feel helpless. This is okay. You are a human being. You are allowed to feel like one.

Remember: your mental health is so much more important than so many other things in your life. Take mental health days: nothing is better than reserving an entire day to wrap yourself in warm pajamas, eat your favorite foods, and binge-watch your favorite show all from the refuge of your bed. Take mental health minutes if you need to! If I'm studying and feel myself getting overwhelmed, I allow myself to take a break until I feel better.

Please, if you are feeling helpless, tell someone! I know that sometimes it is hard to feel like anyone cares, but trust us, we do!

I love you all. Stay safe!