WELCOME TO COLLEGE! The time for you to learn how to do your own laundry, buy groceries, actually clean, and generally be expected about the chance to act like an adult (even though you were considered a child not too long ago). You're expected to dive head first into all of that, while attending classes, doing assignments, maintaining your mental and physical health, despite the fact you have started your adult life with a tremendous amount of debt hanging over your head. CONGRATULATIONS! Why do people expect us to just understand how to be adults? We are noobies! Here are a few reasons why a majority of us suck at taking care of ourselves.

1. Our sleep schedules are awful.

I'm pretty sure the most frequent answer I get when I ask other college students how they are is "tired". Let's face it, now that we don't have parents glaring over our shoulders (or if you commute and your parents just give you more freedom), we realize we suck at gauging when to get to sleep. We grossly underestimate how much sleep we need to function. Yet again, it seems, no matter how much sleep we get, we are always tired.

My advice: Naps are your best friend.

2. We aren't any better at deciding on food.

I thought the whole "living off Ramen noodles" thing was a joke, until I was so exhausted after class or working on homework that I just wanted a warm meal. But there was no way I was willing to spend longer than five minutes to get it. That's why most of us opt for fast food or easy meals like mac-n-cheese, Ramen, or microwave dinners. We also suck at understanding our nutritional needs. Of course, I shouldn't eat nuggets multiple times a week, but I definitely do. Do I drink enough water? Pshhh...no way. I'm pretty sure I'm 70% sweet tea at this point.

My advice: Try and limit the fast food and binge eating for comfort if you can. The freshman 15 is a very real thing.

3. Alcohol isn't a food group.

Although this isn't a problem I have, I know plenty of college students who choose to drink when they get stressed. Paper? Wine. Presentation? Vodka. Group project with non-divided grading? Strongest alcohol you can find. Alcohol definitely doesn't help with the being tired and poor eating habits.

My advice: Be careful with the alcohol, everything in moderation.

4. We just can't get our s*** together, no matter how hard we try.

At the beginning of every semester, I write out every assignment we are given in advance down in a planner. This way I have all the due dates organized. I have color coded folders, binders, and notebooks. I always feel very organized, but once the semester starts...oh screw it. It doesn't matter how prepared I feel, every semester I will inevitably forget an assignment, not make time to study for a test, or straight up not do an assignment so I can complete another (more important) assignment.

My advice: Get your s*** together, try to keep it together, and keep calm (even if you can't keep it together).

5. We are encouraged to have our own opinions (for the first time).

You know the song "Brick in the Wall" by Pink Floyd? That's exactly how students feel until they get into college. Once you get here, you actually have professors who want to know your opinions. I can't explain my feelings when one of my professors explained that our whole class was opinion based and we had absolute freedom in all our topics and projects. They let you out of the box (to a certain degree). You are expected to think for yourselves.

My advice: Don't head cannon. Relax and let your mind flow for once.

6. Most of us are entirely overwhelmed and overloaded with work for classes.

Because within three days last semester, I had a 3000-word research report on hypercortisolism, a Biochemistry exam, three Physics assignments and a quiz, and a paper for Business Ethics. I AM ONLY ONE HUMAN.

My advice: See numbers 3 and 4.

7. We are at that weird stage of life.

Some of our friends are getting engaged, married, and having babies. Even though some of us know we aren't ready for something like that, we still crave a stable relationship (even if it's a FWB or a committed relationship). We just need someone we can count on when we need them.

Too bad most of us are dealing with idiots like this on the first date.

My advice: ... Well... I have no advice here. I'm currently failing in this game. Someone give me advice.

8. We just don't care most of the time.

We are there to reassure our friends that not everything is a big deal. In the end, we are only here four years, and sometimes, college just isn't where you are meant to be. Sometimes, your major just isn't the right track for you. Sometimes, you just need to drop or retake the class. Don't sweat it.

My advice: Take care of yourself first, don't worry too much. Also, see number 4.

GOOD LUCK, AMIGOS.