When it comes to balancing life, stress, and all the other emotions that come into play during the school year, it is not something that you master overnight. I have been working on balancing my time since the day I stepped foot on ISU's campus and let me tell you, I am not even close to a completely balanced lifestyle. But then again, who is? It takes time to figure out how to create a healthy, beneficial lifestyle for yourself. It is inevitable to have mental breakdowns in the middle of trying to do so but sometimes you can take from that. All I am saying is that I live in a house with 36 girls and share ONE shower with EIGHT girls...there is no time to distress by taking a nice bubble bath. So, I had to figure out other ways to keep from going insane.

The first and easiest thing that I do for myself is keeping a planner. Sounds so simple right? Wrong. I have always been that girl to go buy a cute, little planner that TOTALLY will help me remember to write all my work and priorities down. Yeah, as if! It has taken me such a long time to actually train myself to remember to write all of my goals, assignments, deadlines, whatever it may be, down in my planner. Lo and behold, it actually helps me! I am someone that feels satisfaction when I get to check the little box next to the assignment. Who would have thought that the simplest thing could make my life so much easier? Clearly not me!

Another thing that I have learned to do is divide my time up in chunks in order to get things done. I am not one to do something in one sitting. After a while, it is just unfair for my butt because it just starts to hurt! I enjoy Youtube, snacking, Netflix, and Facetiming friends. Clearly there is not enough time in the day to do all of that and get my school work done so I do my best to take breaks and make time for little things that make me feel less stress. After I complete an assignment, I will watch a youtube video as a de-stressor until it is time to move onto the next subject. That allows my brain to separate what I was just working on from what I am about to work on. It is a great way for me to shift gears and give my brain a rest.

Lastly but the most important to me, I tell myself that it is okay and I am not a loser for not wanting to go out and wanting to take time for myself. Staying in is one of the main things that keeps me sane during college and helps me balance my life. So, I am not a party girl? I want all the girls and boys who think they are the oddball out to stop thinking that. It is okay to want to stay in and watch a movie or go get something to eat or spend quality time with friends. Not going out as much as others and taking time for myself has proved to myself that this is what works for me because, by the time the next stressful week comes, I know exactly how to handle it. There is nothing wrong with wanting time with yourself.

When it comes to balancing your life, make sure to tune into yourself and think about what is best for you. Not what is best for others, or your social status, think about what is going to benefit you in the long run. Nothing is ever truly balanced because life is crazy but you can take steps to make your weeks a little bit easier.