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I Am Constantly Overwhelmed And Exhausted

A statement from a college student.

Sep 25, 2020

I Am Constantly Overwhelmed And Exhausted

https://pixabay.com/photos/crying-cry-sad-face-icon-symbol-729439/

This is honestly going to be me venting because I am really stressed right now and life seems to always be winning the race of time. I know I am young, and have my whole life ahead of me, and blah blah blah, but what if I don't?

That is not to be morbid, it's to say, if I were to die tomorrow, would I be happy with where I am at? With what I am doing? Right now, I go to bed at about one or two in the morning, having been in studio working on my architecture projects until then, and I wake up at 7:30 or 8 am and start working. If I am not working on homework, projects, or my portfolio, I am in meetings for an editorial team I am on, coordinating with a downtown business whom I am in charge of building furniture for (as a community service project), writing articles and keeping in touch with my other Odyssey writers, meeting with grad schools, or working on my youtube videos. Between all of these things, right now, I do not have time to cook meals for myself (I eat out all of the time), I do not go to the gym anymore (and I miss it), and I sit in front of my computer for basically 16 hours a day.

It is tedious. It is tiring. And sometimes I really question whether or not it is worth it.

I do love what I am doing, it all makes me happy. But so does spending time with my friends and family. So does traveling. So does learning more about photography and videography. So does just relaxing. Most of the time, my addiction to working does not even phase me, but when I want a day to do absolutely nothing, and start adding up all of my responsibilities in my head and the deadlines that live alongside them, I realize I do not have that option.

That is when the feeling of being overwhelmed kicks in. When I feel like I am wasting my time. When I feel like I am missing out on my life. It is a scary feeling, and when I am in the middle of it, in the back of my mind I am thinking about how I am wasting time while I am panicking.

Is that not the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?

The point is to say, whatever you are doing, whether in school, or working, or being a parent, or just finding your way, it is going to be hard. No matter what it is, it will overwhelm you at times, because life has a way of doing that. But if most of the time, you do not feel rushes of happiness knowing you are doing what you love, or at least actively working towards it, then maybe you should rethink what, or who, you are giving your time to.

When you feel overwhelmed, look for your goal at the end of the tunnel, and if you do not even know what that goal looks like, then take a hard look at why you are overwhelmed, and make sure it is for the right reasons.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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I Am Constantly Overwhelmed And Exhausted

A statement from a college student.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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