Freshmen year of college is full of opportunities. Whether it be clubs, Greek life, sports, or one of the million other things to do on campus, there is always something to be involved in.

In high school, I did almost anything a person could do without having a mental breakdown. When I came to college, I thought I could continue doing everything and just carry on about my merry way. That is not the case.

College can be a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Stress is no joke, and trying to do a thousand different things on top of going to class can take a toll on your mental health. I had to learn how to make time for myself, and that can be hard to do when you're used to focusing on everything else.

The first step is to prioritize things.

Start out by deciding which things you are most passionate about and be sure to keep those in your schedule. What will help you with your future career? What do you love to do? Stick with the organizations and activities which answer these questions. Those are the things you should be focusing on while you're in college, and the organizations here are designed for you specifically to do just that.

Next, manage your time wisely.

Sit down at the beginning of each week and write down everything you have to do that week, including studying and extracurriculars. Make sure you have a relatively regular schedule for eating. I find it really helpful to use a weekly timesheet with hourly blocks so I can see the layout of my week.

Once you've got everything written down, look for gaps. When are you free? What do you like to do during your free time? Fill in these gaps in your schedule with things you find to be fun and relaxing. Maybe hang out with friends or take a shopping trip to the mall (not that I am recommending retail therapy, we are in college, we are poor, use your brain).

After you've had your fun, now it's time to take into account self-care.

Every evening, it is helpful to do one thing that helps clear your mind. Watch TV, watch a movie, journal, read, or do anything that detaches you from the stress of the day. This is super important for getting a good nights sleep.

It can be quite an adjustment to go from doing it all to doing all that you love, but it is worth it. You learn a lot about yourself and your future when you start narrowing down your involvement. It also gives you an important gap to take time for yourself, which should always be a priority.

Without a mentally and physically healthy you, there is no way your college experience will be the happy and healthy one that it has the potential to be.