Mental health is often overlooked. College years are such a whirlwind of stress, excitement, and change, and our mental health should be central during these times. This past semester, I found myself putting my mental health to the wayside in order to power through school work, which had negative consequences in the long run. In 2016, we can pledge to improve our mental health by incorporating the following into our daily routine.

Be sure to reward yourself.

Rewarding yourself for accomplishing a task is a great positive reinforcement. The reward can be something as simple as getting your favorite coffee from Starbucks, treating yourself to chipotle for dinner, or buying a new color of nail polish. When we forget to reward ourselves, we are like steam engines going uphill with no breaks. We burn out very fast. Rewarding yourself is a great way to pat yourself on the back for a job well done and it will give you motivation going into the next challenge.

Practice positive self-talk.

We tend to harp on the things that we cannot do or the things that are difficult for us. Try to catch the negative thought as it arises in your brain and replace it with a positive one. Often times, when we dwell on the negative, nothing will change. But thinking more positively will lead to an overall change in attitude. Remind yourself every once in a while that you got this.

Expel these words from your vocabulary: can’t, should, won’t, impossible.

All of these words simply point out the things that you can’t do, or the things that you should be doing but aren't. The more you use these words, the more you drag yourself down. Focus more on your strengths and abilities, or what you can do given the situation.

Get rid of toxic people in your life.

I think we can all identify that one person in our lives that causes stress or complicates things for us. 2016 is an opportunity to try to distance yourself away from them. This does not imply that you need to tell them in some dramatic way that you want them out of your life. They do not even have to leave your life at all if that is what you wish. Consider creating a little more space between you and that person or maybe seeing them less if possible. Troublesome roommates are a little bit more tricky, but just remember that open communication is very important in those types of situations.

Take care of your overall health and well-being.

As college students, we tend to push our limits and not listen to what our bodies are telling us. Too many long nights in the library, eating too much or not enough, and going out too much are all examples of things that really take a toll of our bodies and can have negative effects on our mental health. In 2016, try to listen to your body and take care of your physical health. Your mental health will be grateful.

Focus on the present.

The mistakes of our past and our worries about the future cloud the present moment. If our heads are constantly somewhere else, we cannot focus on what is happening right now. In the words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” Be appreciative and mindful of the present moment and it will most likely alleviate your anxiety.

Disconnect every once in a while.

With phones and computers constantly in our grasp, it is hard to disconnect from stress and give ourselves a break. With jobs, school, friends, and significant others, disconnecting can be a bit of a challenge in college. Try to disconnect just for a few hours a week. Turn your phone off and go to the beach, the mall, or just hang out in your apartment. It's relaxing to not have anything backlit grabbing your attention or nagging at you to do something.

Put your mental health first, not last.