For most college students, winter break is the time off they desperately needed from the chaos of the school semester and lack of rest. The vacation is days marked by sleeping in late and laying around all day watching Netflix. It was likely a must-needed bliss and relaxation that for some is about to end very soon.

You are starting off the semester with a refreshed mindset and are eager to dive into the school year once again, but something that you can't forget about is preserving this mental health state. If you are someone who struggles with mental illness, be sure to put this first as you enter the semester. Make sure that you stay aware of what needs to be done for yourself to ensure that you have a strong semester, in both education and mental health. Here are some ways to do so:

1. Stick to a sleeping schedule to ensure the rest you need.

When you set your body clock to allow yourself eight hours of sleep per night, you'll find that you will become a better rested, more lively person. If you fluctuate your sleeping habits, your body will not know what to do and not be able to adjust as well. You may be wondering, how will this help my mental health? Well, your body includes your brain, so when you are giving it the rest it desperately needs, it will show you that it's thankful by staying more alert during the day and knowing when to slow down, allowing you a better sleep at night.

2. Take time for yourself when you need it most.

The school year can get very overwhelming incredibly fast. You will feel the pressures of everything your classes are having you do, as well as trying to balance a social life. We tend to focus on the two but forget about the third, which is your overall well-being. If you find that life is moving too fast, or are feeling like you can't catch a break, take a night for yourself. Relax and enjoy the quiet that is your bedroom - allow your brain to enjoy some downtime to work itself out. Even if someone is asking you to hang out, gently decline and tell them that you're busy because you are. You're focusing on bettering your mental health, and that's a job of its own, so be sure to put in the hours.

3. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you begin to feel overwhelmed.

If you find that you are drowning and that your mental health is deteriorating, ask for help. Go see your school's therapist or find your own - either way, just be sure to seek the assistance you need. Your friends and family can only act like your therapist for so long until they don't know what to say anymore or how to really help you. There's no shame in seeing a professional; it doesn't mean that you are weak or incapable, it means that you are smart enough to recognize that you are in need medical relief and that you care to work on your well-being. So good job, go you.

4. Stay organized so you don't feel the anxiety of everything you need to do as bad.

I really can't stress this one enough. One of my biggest stressors is feeling unorganized or that I don't have everything under control. When I write everything that I need to get done in a planner, I can visually see what needs to be accomplished, so instead of just feeling like I have a lot on my plate, I can see that I can get it done. It softens the blow and declutters your mind. Get yourself a really nice agenda that you can carry around so you can check off your to-do list as you actually do it. In addition, once you complete something, you can head straight to the next task, which allows you to know what needs to be finished instead of thinking about what it could possibly be.

With this, try to keep your spaces tidy: make your bed, put away your clothes, neatly stack up your books, pick your bag up from the floor and put your shoes in the closet. When you clean up your place, you won't feel like you have another task in front of you (AKA actually having to arrange your room), and you won't get distracted by your messes.

5. Remember that college isn't all school or all play.

Find your happy medium and a sense of relaxation. If you have a test, put in the time studying for it but also make sure you have some rest. Don't work your mind too much, otherwise, it will overload and it will not be able to retain any more information. Think of it as a sponge: you can run it under water but it will fill at some point and reject the running water. Take the time to turn off the faucet and ring it out before going again.

6. Eat three well-balanced meals a day.

Your body needs food and there's no way to get around it. If you feed it healthy options, it will reward you in more ways than one. Just make sure you are eating enough and not just the junk food from the drawer under your bed. Make some eggs for breakfast, a nice sandwich and some fruit for lunch, and a protein, carb, and vegetable for dinner - it will do wonders for your brain.

7. Do what makes you happy.

Take time to work on your hobby and relax. Don't let school crowd your mind all the time. You have to remember to do the things that make you feel better before you get overly stressed and while also being in the thick of it. Taking time for what makes you happy doesn't mean you are neglecting your other responsibilities, it means that you are giving your mental health the attention it deserves.

8. Enjoy some people interaction if it's what you need.

If you are stuck in your head or just having a rough mental day, go see some friends. Let them take your mind off of whatever is stressing you and just unwind. Laugh with them, be lazy, and just enjoy their company. Sometimes if we are in our heads too much it isn't such a good thing, especially when you feel like you are thinking in circles.

9. Don't be afraid to relax.

Turn off your phone, put away that new planner you bought obviously because of this article, and just unwind. Put on the show you've been dying to watch on Netflix or the new movie on Hulu. Throw on some sweats, grab coffee or tea, curl up with your cozy blanket, and just take time to yourself.

I hope this brings you some comfort as you head into the new semester. Just know that you are capable of anything as long as you give it your attention, even your mental health. These options aren't going to get rid of your symptoms, but they will be calmed.