Mental health is a huge contribution to your overall health and since were are a little more than halfway through the school year, everyone’s morale is getting low. So here are some tips and tricks to better mental health.

The first trick is to have a positive mental attitude. Just changing little ways you think. Instead of thinking that you’re bad at something, think that now you have the best opportunity to learn. Stop thinking about things in a pessimistic way. Even though it might be hard to switch your mindset once you think a certain way, a 2005 study shows that over 275,000 people found  that having a positive mental attitude reduces stress.

Make time for yourself. The most important thing you can do is to make sure that you’re okay before you dive into other’s problems. Senior Amanda Manuel says that to take care of herself, she will shower and just give herself reassurance. And sometimes, just cry. Let it out and just have a good cry for a little bit.

Finally, find something to do. Find something that makes you happy. Writing seems to be a big help for a lot of students. Write out how you feel, or write a story about dragons and time travel. Or find a TV show you like. Or go hang out with friends and talk to them about how you’re feeling. Sometimes it good to just let everything out. 

If you want to talk to someone professionally, you can text ‘HELLO’ to 741-741. It’s a free text crisis health line that will link you to real people who can help. Mental health can be tough, I know. But you can and will get through this. And just know that you are not alone.