We are nearing that part of the semester where nights are spent studying, and days are spent running between responsibilities and prior engagements. Most college students today find themselves with a very busy schedule, sometimes with way too much on their plate. And usually, they manage to do everything they need to, but at the expense of one very important thing: their own health.

As college students, too often we make ourselves less of a priority and this is a serious problem. If you are not at your best, then you will not be able to give all your commitments the best version of you that they need, and things will start to fail. But, if you put a little bit of time in each week to taking care of yourself along with everything else you've signed up for, then not only will you feel better, but you will perform better in your day to day tasks.

Self-care can vary from person to person, and it does not have to be done as often for some people as for others. Here are some things you can do that may help you in taking care of your own body.

1. Take a break.

I know, this is very hard to fit into an already hectic schedule, but you need to be able to give yourself some time to catch your breath. Just because you have a 40-minute window in between two activities, does not mean you should book that time for something else. Take those 40 minutes to sit down, eat, drink some water, or if possible - catch a quick nap.

2. Drink something hot that isn't coffee.

We hear about the negative effects of coffee all the time, so this shouldn't be so surprising. Yes, the caffeine in coffee does do the trick in waking you up and giving you the energy boost you need for you day, but there are healthier alternatives, like herbal teas. These drinks will warm you up on these blistery winter days, but they will also give your system a natural boost.

3. Get seven-eight hours of sleep.

Asking a college student to get this many hours of sleep each night is basically the same as asking a baby to win a gold medal in Olympic gymnastics. Nearly impossible. But, it is vital to your own health. When you go to bed, leave the social media-laden devices far away so you are not tempted to waste time scrolling, and instead close your eyes and just let your body fall asleep.

4. Time management.

The key to taking care of yourself is allotting enough time for it. You can do this by making a schedule for yourself and doing your best to stick to it. There is no shame in adding "me time" to your weekly (or daily) schedule. When you manage your time, you can manage yourself as well.

5. Prioritize.

This goes hand-in-hand with prioritizing. Determine which tasks are an absolute necessity and which ones aren't so high on the list. You have a midterm coming up next week, but also a meeting for your internship? Talk to your intern boss and figure out if you can meet with him or her some other time, so that you can focus on your studies. All managers and bosses who hire college students know that school is a priority, so don't let yourself forget it.

6. Wind down.

Each night, if you can, take some time to unwind from the day. Put on calming music, take a hot shower, turn down the lights. I know how easy it is to just come home, do some homework and fall into bed. But when you do that, your mind is still running at 100 miles per hour, and you will not get the best sleep you need. Winding down gives your mind the chance to slow down as well, and instead of "crashing," it can actually sleep.

7. Tune out.

Turn off the social media notifications on your phone, find your favorite Pandora station and just tune out from the world. Give yourself a break from being pulled at from each end.

8. Exercise.

The dreaded E word. Well, you all should know that exercising releases endorphins in your brain that make you feel good. Plus, imagine the sweat and calories that are forming to be the same as the stress in your life. Feel it melt off your body.

9. Eat well.

These ramen noodles, and mac and cheese companies make quite the pretty penny off of us college students, but we just end up harming our systems. Each week, maybe on Sundays, take some time to throw together healthy meals for the week. It doesn't have to be fancy; you can add canned vegetables on top of spinach and throw in some brown rice from the cafe and you have it! This will also make getting lunch together easier each day, instead of scrambling around seven times a week to figure out what to eat.

10. Socialize.

Talk to your friends! They are also stressed and you could all use each other's company.

11. Dress comfortably.

Comfort varies from person to person. If you like to glam up and feel at ease, then do that. If you feel at your most comfortable in sweats and sneakers, do that. Don't worry what anyone else says or thinks. But maybe dress professionally for your work and internship ventures.

12. Find reasons to laugh.

Laughter is the best medicine!

I hope you can take some of these tips and put them into your daily or weekly routine. They may seem impossible to incorporate right now, but once you add them you'll realize they help you in so many ways!

Good luck for the rest of the semester!