School gets so stressful sometimes. With homework, projects, exams, lectures, labs, and everything else in between, we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves. Some of us suffer from the physical and mental symptoms of stress. We deal with loss of sleep, recurring acne, headaches, stomach aches, and exhaustion. We need to learn, not only to cope with stress, but to know when to let it go. School is one of the most important things we are doing right now, but we can’t let it take over our entire lives. That is one of the most important things to keep in mind.
Yes, school is an extremely important part of our lives right now. We all want to do our very best and we spend countless hours working on, and stressing over, schoolwork. However, when it starts to interfere with our well-being, it has gone too far. We can’t let school determine our happiness. We all need to learn when it is time to take a step back and relax. Maybe for you, that means taking a break and going to bed a few hours earlier and finishing your homework in the morning. Or, maybe that means going home for the weekend and leaving your backpack at the dorm. It’s easier said than done, since we are always held accountable for so much, but it is something we should all try to do.
Another point at which we should take a much needed break, is when schoolwork starts to interfere with our time with our family. Many of us only get to see our families a few weekends a month. When our schoolwork starts to turn our “family time” into “study time,” we need to learn to take a step back. Yes, it is extremely important to try our hardest in school, but I for one, am never going to let school come before the most important people in my life. I would rather spend a few extra hours at night or in the morning working on homework, than miss out on time with my family. I think we should all think about that next time school starts to take over our lives again.
I know, this is all easier said than done. Many of us find it very hard to stop worrying about all of the work we have to do and just relax. Many of us would rather just get the work done first, and then relax. Whichever way you think, it is just important to take a step back from it sometimes. You can’t let school take over your whole life. Find time to do the things you enjoy. Whether it’s reading a book (not school related), binge watching your favorite show, running, hiking, or spending time with your friends and family, take some time this year to do the things you enjoy, without stressing about school. You’ll thank me.
