Staying mentally healthy and stable with a busy college schedule is one of the hardest and most common challenges we face today. Almost everyone here at CMU has had or has known a friend that has struggled with some form of mental illness.

Mental illness is a huge factor in our lives and affects our daily activities in odd and unexpected ways. There are many ways to help someone improve their mental illness, and many of the more well-known ones are to get professional help. Colorado Mesa University has counselors and therapists on campus for students to turn to when they need it, with a small co-pay of $5, as well as a suicide hotline and 24/7 crisis number 888.207.4004.

Professionals do help more than people think, and our school makes getting help very easy and cheap. Even just talking to someone who has experience helping people once a week or even once a month can help in a lot of ways. However, getting professional help can be intimidating. There are tons of other, smaller and simpler ways to stay mentally healthy on your own.

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There will always be a great amount of love and support from the people around you. This is a cliche saying, but it’s honestly helpful to take care of yourself physically when you feel down. It doesn’t have to be in quite such intense ways as, say, dieting and working out every day, but taking care of your body.

The simple feeling that you’re being healthy makes you look at things a bit more positively. Try having a salad instead of pasta once a day, taking an apple instead of fries. Water instead of soda at dinner. Small things really do make a difference. If you usually bike to class, try walking one or two days a week, or going to the gym if you have an hour or so of free time.

Go hang out with friends and study instead of binging a few episodes of “Parks and Recreation.” Even opening your dorm or apartment window while you study will brighten your mind (and your room). College work is hard, and we all know it can pile up fast.

A small tip that I’ve found that helps with school stress is to set a timer while you work and study. Set an alarm for 20 minutes and study for that whole time, but when it rings, set another for, say, 15 minutes. Spend those 15 minutes doing something you love to do when you relax.

Have some popcorn, watch half an episode of something or a Youtube video and let your brain chill out for another 20 minutes. Take time to yourself, do things you know you love and prioritize yourself above all else.

Try to cut out negative, demanding people and commitments that bring you stress and anxiety. When you work, work somewhere quiet and bright. Always try to carry water with you, and there have been studies done that say that small bits of chocolate, like Hershey Kisses, help the brain focus. And, I mean, they’re delicious.