College is not easy. Just this week, I have (barely) survived my class schedule, playing tests, work, incredible workloads, fraternity education and fundraising, scheduling classes for next semester, dress rehearsals for a show I am both in AND costuming, and the weight of not getting enough sleep to restore myself after the days I have. Recently, there’s been a post circulating about romanticizing exhaustion.

And let me tell you:

It’s not fun to have a breakdown at 10:30 at night because there’s just so much left to do and you cannot feasibly get it all done.

It’s not invigorating to suffer stomach pains and headaches for days because there is so much tension in your body.

It’s not delightful when you start to fear the things you love simply because they are causing unnecessary stress.

Chronic exhaustion and overexertion are not things to aspire to. It is avoidable. You don’t need to live every day from 7 AM to 11 PM. You’re allowed to take a break; you’re allowed to ask for help.

Currently, my day consists of a wake-up time of 7:30, classes from roughly 9-1, (some days until about 4), a quick dinner, and rehearsal from 6:30-10. Only then can I unwind from the day I’ve had, get work done, and get in contact with people I need to talk to. It’s a continuous cycle of overexertion. While the end of it might be in sight, it’s too far away to see clearly, which makes it all the more difficult to keep going.

And a message for those of you who may be going through the same thing: self-care. It’s more than just taking a bubble bath and doing some deep breathing exercises. It’s allowing yourself to get enough sleep, and eating well, and washing your face. It’s drinking enough water. These are thing that I’m struggling with now, but I know doing them will make me feel better.

Maybe you just call in sick for a day to take some time to yourself, to breathe, and to relax.

While some stress in your life can be good, if you’re overexerted, it’s no good for you, or for the things that you love. Think of the coral in the Great Barrier Reef. When it faces stress, it flat-out dies. Though we may not die, it’s not healthy for humans to be constantly stressed, either.

To those who feel this weight: I’m here for you, and I feel your pain. We can get through. We will come out of it alive. I promise.