It's that time of year again: the time when break is approaching, midterms are somewhat over and you're just trying to pull through until you can go home to where food is made for you and laundry is folded neatly.
When I start each semester, I set goals for myself. Things like going to the gym (never happened), attending more events (went to 2/45 events), getting good grades (A's are great and all but C's get degrees sooo..) and getting enough sleep (3 hours and 1 hour cat nap suffices, right?). No matter what your goals are, sometimes it's difficult to achieve them because, well, life happens. You try to do everything all at once and then end up feeling like you're suffocating. Then, by the time you get to the things you want to do, you're out of energy, you're tired, and nothing sounds better than Netflix and a bath and you still don't even have time for that. Time is of the essence but there are days where it feels like there isn't enough time in the world, even if you plan out everything and color code it in your Passion Planner.
So if you're like me and have 100 things to do all in one day, here's a little advice (as my mom says "take my advice, I'm not using it")
I can do anything, but I can't do everything
SO IMPORTANT. Reread that sentence and reread it again and add it to your weekly quote in your Passion Planner. While you may have the same hours of the day as Beyonce, Beyonce can't do everything in one day. Understand that you are able to do anything you set your mind to, but do the things that only YOU can handle.
There is nothing worse than feeling like you're being pulled in ten different directions and about to explode. Remember that it's okay to not do everything in one day and focus on the things that you need to do today and go from there. It's great to think you can do everything all at once, and maybe some days you can, but realistically, some days you just can't, and that's perfectly okay too.
Prioritize
Three officer positions, two jobs, and being a full-time student are definitely great to put on your resume, but it's not as great when you're having hourly mental breakdowns in Dirac. Find the things that speak to you and take away the things that aren't. Remember that quality speaks volumes over quantity. In my opinion, I'd rather talk about all the things that I did in one organization, rather than saying I'm in three organizations but contributed the bare minimum in each one.
Spread your schedule out so you're not overwhelmed by the amount of things you need to do. Prioritize the things that matter to you the most for the day, and focus on the rest for tomorrow. Today is the only day that matters, so accomplish what you need to do today before you can start worrying about what you need to do in the future.
Treat Yo' Self
While you're probably reading this article and saying "this doesn't apply to me", then you're a) lying to yourself or b) are one of those people who quote every five minutes "I'll sleep when I'm dead". Taking care of yourself is the most important thing you can do whether it's getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, or exercising. Even taking an hour out of your day to relax, catch up on OITNB, and unwind is easier said than done but is definitely efficient. Find the time to enjoy what you like and do something you want to do, not something you have to do.
Enjoy the little things
College may be the time to find yourself, reinvent that awkward high-schooler you once were and take advantage of all the opportunities that are presented to you. However, remember that just like high school, college is only for four years, and you only have so much time to enjoy it. So sit out on Landis with that latte, play with a puppy you just met while walking to your class, try local places, go out every once in a while, and just have fun before you can't make the choice to adult or not for the day.
But hey, like I said, take my advice because I'm definitely not using it.
