I've only been back at school for about two to three weeks and I'm already stressed. I'm taking 22.5 credits, I'm secretary of a club, and I'm already working on about two or three shows, not to mention I have a campus job.
I'm not sure why I took on so much, it's probably because there isn't much to do during the day on campus or around town so I needed something to fill up that space. When I do have moments of downtime, like those one hour intervals between class and work, I'm either doing one of three things.
1) Hanging in my room with my roommates
2) With my boyfriend
3) Eating
So you can say that I'm a busy-bee. Which for a while was good because I never felt bored or that I didn't have something to do. Now, all of that is changing. Everything is happening all at once and I feel like I'm starting to feel overwhelmed.
This is especially because I no longer find time for myself. When I do have time for myself, it's either time to sleep or do homework. Those aren't really things I do to relax myself.
I NEED "ME" TIME. Time to do what I want to and at the pace I want to. Something that makes me feel like I have some control over what I'm doing in my life. It is super important that people make time for themselves.
Having "me" time can really keep people sane and from burning themselves out. It's something I had to learn by experience through high school and my first year of college. I was always trying to put everything and everyone first that I neglected myself and wound up getting sick more often than normal. I also found myself being very tired and needing to sleep and eat more than usual. It's because I was doing all these things for everyone else that I didn't do the basic things I needed for me.
"Me" time can also allow you to be better in the things you are doing for everyone else. Whenever I felt awful, whether it was due to lack of sleep or food, my work would be awful. Okay, maybe not awful but my work wouldn't have be up to my standards. My work would have be done with the same amount of time and energy if I would have taken the time for myself. It makes sense though, if you're tired, then you're not going to give the same amount of attention to your work as you would if you had more sleep.
Also, there is nothing wrong with taking a moment just for yourself. That's something I'm learning now in college. There are time where you're going to have to be selfish and that's okay. At the end of the day, you're the only person who is going to be there for you 100% of the time. You're the person who is going to supply your own happiness. It is okay to not feel okay and say to yourself, "I need a moment for me."
Go listen to your favorite song, dance in your room, eat your favorite snack. Whatever it is that helps you feel like yourself, do it! Don't ever apologize for taking care of yourself, even if that means putting someone else's wants and needs to the side for a moment.
