A while ago I wrote a story about raising your grades at the end of the year. While grades are important, even more so is making sure that you’re taking care of your body and mind so you can learn how to be the best person you can be.

Often times a high school can be really hard on the physical and mental well-being of a person. It is true that you have to work double time to take care of yourself in a toxic environment. Everyone had moments where they slack off and feel like nothing’s worth it. And we also all have moments where we seem to worry way too much. The first step to taking care of yourself is knowing that you’re not alone.

So, here is my foolproof plan for improving your mental health. This won’t make everything perfect, but it will certainly make you feel a little better during your day to day life.

1. Take Care of the Basics

No matter how necessary it may seem, there is no denying that the basics of having a happy lifestyle is taking care of the more normal things. Start by making sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep every night (Even if it means going to sleep at 8 pm) and eating something somewhat healthy every morning (even if it’s a granola bar). One of the most important things that you can do is drink lots of water! Bring a water bottle and have something to sip on while you’re in class. (Plus! It’ll make you less hungry during the day)

2. Take Care of Your Grades!

There is nothing that will make you feel more at ease than going to sleep with a grade book full of A’s. It may take a little bit of extra effort to finish all your homework and study for all of your classes, but in the end, it’s worth it to be able to go into a test knowing all of the answers. Being in school is like riding a rollercoaster. It’s always more easy to ride in the roller coaster when you’re inside the cart, rather than clinging to the edge. No matter how much energy it would take to finish that report you’ve been dreading, you’ll feel better when it gets done. (Plus, if all is well and good, if you have a really difficult/annoying assignment, you don’t have to worry too much about passing)

3. Find Something To Look Forward To

Now that you have your body and school life is taken care of, what are you going to do about the voice in your head telling you that all existence is a lie? Get a hobby! It can be something as small as making origami fortune tellers, all the way to starting your own garden. There is nothing better for your mental health than having something to look forward to when you go home. You could also join a club! It is easier to get through the hard times if you have people who care for you.

So good luck to you! I hope you find a way to have a successful finish to this school year.