To The Struggling College Student, Remember To Take Time For Yourself | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

To The Struggling College Student, Remember To Take Time For Yourself

There's only so much you can take before you break.

141
To The Struggling College Student, Remember To Take Time For Yourself

Hey, you there, trying to keep your head up and swallow that lump in your throat as you look at your planner, which is jam-packed with events, homework and god knows what else you have to do that week, take a breath.

Take a second to sit back, close your eyes and chill out for a second. Open Facebook. Scroll through Instagram. Listen to music. Do whatever it is that makes you happy, and do it over and over again. Because you'll need it.

Overloading yourself and taking on more than you can handle is not good for you. It can cause you to feel overwhelmed, lose sleep, break out, throw off your cycle and gain weight if you stress eat.

Having a breakdown over stress is the worst: you cry for literally every reason under the sun, and it's not a soft cry, it's an ugly Kim Kardashian like cry because you've been keeping your emotions bottled up for so long. And the worst part is, you're so exhausted when it's over that all you want to do is take a nap.

I know what it's like to overwhelm yourself. I know what it's like to put too much on your plate and not want to slip up and admit you can't do it all. You want to do it all because you want to be a team player, you want to be dependable, and show the world what you're made of, but sometimes, you can't.

If you know you're going to be busy that week with your English paper, calc test, sports stuff and having to read some chapters for another class, don't take on another project because you want to be the hero. It's only going to hurt you in the end, and there's only so much we can take before we break.

Allow yourself a little time each night, even if it's only a few minutes, to reflect on the day's events and prepare for what's coming up tomorrow. Go to bed early for once at 9 instead of 10. Do a face mask. Watch music videos. Listen to your favorite band, something to take your mind off things for a little while.

I've been there - feeling so overwhelmed that you break down and feel drained because you have no energy left. It's the worst feeling in the world, and I've had trouble learning from the past because I overwhelm myself sometimes, but you have to remember to take some time out for yourself. It'll be worth it in the end.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
smiling girl in pink and white stripe shirt

I'll never forget the day that someone told me these words: "Madison, I think you're a good friend to everyone but yourself." I stood there completely in awe of that statement. Before that day, I never really thought about being a friend to myself, and at the time, I didn't really know what it meant. Now, I realize that you can't fully be there for other people unless you're there for yourself, too. You can't show up for others until you're willing to show up for yourself.

Here are five things everyone should learn in order to be a better friend to themselves. These steps are hard, but they're so worth it.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas decorations
YouTube

Finals, exams and papers - oh my! The only thing keeping you sane at the moment is the thought that Christmas break is near. Need a mid-week pick-me-up? Here are some simple things you can do to stay motivated and get into the Christmas spirit.

1. Play Christmas Music

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

21 Things We All Love About Winter

Despite the cold, you might find that there is a lot to love about winter.

123
pine cone winter
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

We all have a love hate relationship with winter, lets be real here. The snow makes people forget how to drive, its cold, the roads are bad, and chances are, you will be spending a lot more money than you do during the other months of the year. If you’re from the Midwest, it seems to be that winter lasts for what feels like forever. But despite the struggles that winter brings, there are so many things to love about it.

Keep Reading...Show less
christmas shopping bags

Shopping for your family and friends can be expensive. So why not make something small and cute while not emptying your bank account?

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The Post Thanksgiving Panic And Anxiety

It happens to all of us, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas the catch up with you.

1421
studying

Thanksgiving Break is most likely everyone’s favorite break during the fall semester. You get to go home and reminisce with all your high school friends. That diet you’ve been on for the past month goes out the window, and you get to eat until you put yourself into a food coma. There’s no rush on homework and you can just lie in bed and Netflix to your heart’s content. To me that sounds like an ideally wonderful break, and totally stress-free.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments