This past week has been one of the hardest weeks of my life.
It seemed like the number of things I had to accomplish, and in the short amount of time I had to do them all in, would be enough to send anyone over the edge. Making it through the day was all I thought about. My poor planner was packed with all my assignments and meetings. I was noticeably on edge and most definitely sleep deprived.
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That being said, I drew inspiration from my experiences to give my two cents on how to handle your stress.
1. Planning is everything
Like I said, my planner was packed with all my assignments for the week. There were different colors, stickers, sticky notes, things crossed out, and other things squished in the margins. In my experience, having a planner is essential. I don't trust my brain to remember everything I have to do, so I write down assignment due dates as soon as I get them. I also try to write my assignments for a few days in advance so I know what I have to plan for. Some people have their life together and write their assignments for the whole semester, but I'm obviously not that prepared. Do what works best for you, but please plan ahead!
2. Schedule breaks
Your brain and your body need breaks. You will absorb more information when you take breaks while studying, and it will reduce your stress levels. I find that when I try to work for hours and hours on end with no breaks I start rushing around and stressing out. Take a break, even if it's only for five minutes. It will help you in the long run.
3. SLEEP!
I am guilty of putting off sleep because of the amount of stuff I have to do. Is it healthy? No. Does it make me stress out more? Probably. Will I ever learn? Who knows. Regardless of my inability to be a functioning human, please sleep. You may not get eight hours, but anything is better than nothing. If you don't sleep, you won't be able to focus in class and that will also be hurtful. Also, not sleeping can mess with your immune system and you may end up getting sick if you don't get enough shut-eye in.
4. Talk to someone
I don't know if many people think of this when they're stressed. Usually, I am super grumpy when I'm stressed out, so I tend to isolate myself to not hurt anyone's feelings. However, when I do take a break from my hectic life to talk to someone I feel so much better. Talking to friends about what you're stressed about can be helpful. They can take your mind off of your struggles during your breaks. My boyfriend tries to make me smile or laugh so I can calm down a bit from all the stress I may be feeling. They can also help you plan out what you need to do. My roommate and I will make "game plans" with each other about what we're going to do so we can work out our schedules together to be more organized.
5. Do your best
It is unrealistic to think that you will be perfect 100% of the time. Accept that you are doing the best you can. Congratulate yourself for all you have accomplished. Reward yourself. You know how tough it is right now, so why be unnecessarily harsh towards yourself? You are your harshest critic. Take a step back and realize that you are working so hard and that you should be proud of yourself.
Deep breaths. You can do this!
