We all know college is brutally stressful, and dealing with a mental illness through college is even worse.

If you have a mental illness, you tend to put your mental health aside in order to complete your assignments. While college is very important, your mental health is even more important. It's ok to take time to do little things for yourself in order to be happy. It can be hard to figure out what to do in some spare time to benefit you mentally, so I compiled a list of small things to do that will be rewarding for your mental health.

1. Play with an animal!

I'm fortunate enough to be attending college that is completely pet friendly, and I even have my dog living in my dorm with me. If you can't have an animal on campus, go to a local dog park, or even just a park, and play with someone's dog for 5 minutes. It's a guaranteed way to feel better.

2. Go to a Park.

Piggybacking off of the previous item, spending time walking through a park can really set your mind at ease. I suggest a park with trails in the woods so you can fully escape "city life" and relax someplace where deadlines don't exist.

3. Watch Netflix.

I'm not saying binge watch an entire series. I suggest watching an episode of a show you've already seen, so you don't feel obligated to press "Next Episode" when it ends. Sometimes watching a 40 minute show is all you need to get out of that "creativity block" you've been feeling while attempting to do a project.

4. Get some ice cream.

Do I even have to elaborate this one? Seriously, go to your favorite ice cream shop and spend half an hour with friends talking and eating ice cream.

5. Exercise.

I'm not suggesting run 5 miles, but in the words of my idol, Elle Woods, "Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy."

6. Take a nap.

I'm personally the nap queen. If I have any time to spare, you can bet that I'm probably napping. You might think that you have no time to nap, or that naps won't help to cope with you mental illness, but for me personally, it's a way to reset my mind and when i wake up I'm more capable to go about my day and finish my assignments.

7. Drive around and listen to music.

My favorite thing is doing this late at night with friends. It's just so relaxing and makes you forget what you've been worrying about, but be responsible and don't speed, my friends!

8. Color.

I'm basically 5 years old, and bought that elaborate Harry Potter coloring book, and let me just tell you, it was one of the best purchases I've made all year.

9. Roadtrip.

Take one day out of the month and go to a different town close by with some friends and just do whatever tourist-y thing you can do to. Trust me, it'll be beneficial.

10. Go to Concerts.

My friends always say "You go to so many concerts". My reasoning behind that is because I don't mind spending some money to go see an artist because the feeling I get listening to live music makes me incredibly happy, so in the end it's entirely worth it.