This semester has been pretty tough so far. Not because my classes are horrible, or that I have realized this isn’t what I want to do with my life. It’s not that I regret deciding to pursue post-secondary education. It’s that I am burnt out. I just entered into my 3^rd year at RSU and my 2^nd year of being a full time student. At the same time, there has been a lot happening in my personal life that has left me tired, unmotivated, and just wanting to stay in bed all day. If you ask me about my classes, I will say that are interesting & I am excited for the discussion, especially ones on the issues we are facing in the criminal justice system today. I like all my professors and know what they expect, and what I am to learn in the class. The coursework isn’t daunting, and I am not afraid of failing. It’s just that regardless of my wanting to succeed in my classes, and be excited for the semester, I am not. I am burnt out, but I am still pushing through, hoping that things calm down soon and I can relax and start next semester without the burn out. So, what helps? Well….

Relaxing, even just for 30 minutes:

I have started to take a little time each week to take a bath, use a face mask, and just chill out by myself. It doesn’t fix everything, but it does feel nice to just do nothing for a while.

Listen to music really loudly:

I love to turn up the music in my car, and just jam out. Music isn’t just entertainment, it’s an outlet for expression. I can’t even say how many times I have listened to Sum 41’s “Pieces” when I felt like I was disappointing people, or Korn’s “Coming Undone” or “Evolution” or “Falling Away” to get myself psyched up for something. I’ve listened to pretty much all Blink 182 songs to make myself smile, or In This Moment’s “Sex Metal Barbie” or “Whore” to remind myself that I am more than what people think of me, and that I write my own story. Music is a form of therapy, let it in.

Remind yourself that you really don’t want to take these classes again:

No matter how much you may like a class, you never want to retake it. You get the credit for it & move on with your education. And never have to buy a new textbook edition for a retake class because they just changed it, again.

Hang out with family/friends, NO textbooks or homework allowed:

Put the phone down if you plan on checking e-campus with it, leave the laptop at home, and do not bring your backpack. Spend 30 minutes to an hour at least once a week talking and catching up with those around you. It makes you feel human, and not so much like a hostage of the textbooks/professors/courses you are taking, even if those textbooks aren’t ready to release you just yet.

Keep in mind the “I can do anything for __ weeks” mentality:

It might be a worn out expression by now, but it is still true. I can do anything for 11 more weeks.

Things change, and they get better, or more complicated. We can’t always choose which, but we can choose to remember that nothing is forever, except marriage.