Hi, I’m Sophia, and I’m stressed.
*cue support group saying “Hi Sophia”*
That’s right, I’m overwhelmed as hell, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I don’t wanna be one of those people that’s like, “I’m 20 and I’m thinking about my future! Pity me!”
However, I’m trying to make a statement that it’s okay to be worried about what’s going on with the rest of your life. I feel like so many people my age are doing their best to get good grades, land their dream jobs, eat healthily, go to the gym every day, drink water, maintain a social life, and stay involved in extracurricular events, all while pretending everything is fine.
Honestly, take a tally of how many times a day you and your friends say, “I’m fine, it’s fine, everything is fine.”
You guys. It is okay to admit the stress we are under.
I honestly think it’s healthier to do so. Once you realize that you don’t have to be put together all the time, you’re going to start living a healthier and loving yourself more.
I know you’ve heard this a million times, but self-love is so important right now. I’m not saying you have to follow a self-help guidebook, but take a second every day to just, like, chill. Do something that makes you feel happy, and stop thinking about the millions of things you have left to do that day. Whether it’s an hour of Netflix, a quick half-marathon run, or a face mask, just do it. Heck, I bought myself some flowers tonight because I needed to remind myself that I love myself.
Stop convincing yourself you don’t have time to prioritize your happiness.
Anyway, the moral of the story here is that it’s okay not to be okay. It’s perfectly fine to connect with your emotions and accept the fact that it’s a stressful time right now. I’ve been on the phone with my dad about a million times a day in the past few weeks working on resumes, cover letters, my new LinkedIn profile, and the grad school application process. That’s a lot to deal with all at once, all while trying to still deal with my current undergraduate life.
No lie, I’m 20 and I have gray hairs? Like are you kidding me? Every time someone asks me what I’m doing this summer, I sprout four new ones.
I guess what I’m trying to say is sometimes life hits you all at once. I know I’m feeling it right now, and I’m dealing with it by talking about it. The future is closer than we think, and we have no choice but to take it all in. Let’s all keep rooting for one another.