Everybody knows that college is filled with peer pressure. You have the pressure from your friends to get rowdy every weekend. You have the pressure from your parents to make them believe that you aren't just fiddlefarting around in college. You have the pressure from your GPA to actually do well in school. You also have the internal pressure to please everyone. You're basically just pressured all the time to be cool, but also to be happy. The good news is that being lame is the new, hip thing to do. You may feel the weight constantly crushing on you, but just remember that you have to make yourself happy before anyone else.
It's fine to just have a Netflix night.
You know that your bros are going to call you up on Friday night and ask you to come crush a "few" cold ones. You had a really long week and all you really want to do is put your fuzzy socks on and turn on "New Girl"... and that's TOTALLY okay! Just because you aren't going to get hammered with your buds every weekend, does not make you any less cool.
It's acceptable to chose a study sesh over a mixer.
We've all had the great internal debate whether to study for your big chemistry test or go to a mixer to meet a cute boy. Just remember that you're going to have a ton more mixers and date parties, but you only have once chance to ace this test. Your sisters may give you a hard time about missing out, but at least you know that you'll be refreshed and prepared for our one shot at successfully dominating your test.
You can miss "The Bachelor" to have some "me time."
On Monday nights your sisters expect you to gather around the TV in a giant clump with Graeter's Ice Cream to witness anatomical perfection. But honestly, sometimes you want to have your own space to do the things that matter to you. Between all the quizzes and a few extra shifts at work, you barely have time to do the things that make you feel good. If you'd rather hit up the gym, crack open a book, or just lay in your bed and do nothing, then you should do it! There are always re-runs and next week to catch up with your sisters. Take some time just for you.
It's normal to chose your family over your friends.
Your mom really wants you to come in town to see your little sister's first gymnastics meet, but your friend really wants you to be her wing woman for the night. Let's be honest with ourselves and realize that you'll always have the chance to be a wing woman because her taste in guys is constantly changing. This week she aims for the man bun, next week she'll want the beard. But you know, that your sister will never have this first meet again. It's fine to de-socialize your calendar to spend a little quality time with your fam. They may not be the coolest people, but they're truly what matters.
The pressures to be cool can really add up. You just need to realize that people's different definitions of cool may not fit your lifestyle. Don't be afraid to be lame in order to sacrifice what matters most to you. If you choose to stay in a night or two, the world isn't going to reject you for being a dweeb. I promise that it's much cooler to be lame than it is to be unhappy and stressed.
