You've probably heard it ten thousand times, but once you actually need it, that's when it'll make the most sense. I'm talking about living in the moment and being present in everyday life. With everything going on at school, a job, extra curricular activities, it can easy to get caught up in all of it and not take a step back. But sometimes, I think it's important to take a step back and realize where you're at right now, because you never know what you might be missing.

I know that especially during this semester, me and the rest of my senior class are freaking out over jobs or trying to find a balance of schoolwork and social life. It can be very difficult to find this balance, but one thing that can help chill you out is to focus on the now. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing, just take a deep breath and soak up the moment you're in. This can allow you to realize how far you've come, but also help you to realize there's so much more in front of you too. It's meant to put things in perspective, and I've found that refocusing your energy can make you less stressed.

So if you're trying to apply for jobs, but are finding it to be more worrisome than fun, then perhaps you need to take a break from it and focus on your school projects so you can keep your grades looking good. Or if you've been running around like crazy on campus from meeting-to-meeting, then maybe it's time to take a look at your schedule so you can figure out if something needs to be moved to give yourself some breathing room. Whatever it is, you deserve to make time for yourself and what you love. I think that trying to focus on your present can help you do this because your mind isn't all over the place and you're not burning yourself out. You'll be able to save some energy and things will seem easier because you're taking it one thing at a time.

If you've never tried this before or you're thinking it'll never work for you, just trust me that even one little change can impact you in a positive way. Life moves pretty fast, and if you don't stop to look around, you might miss a lot. And you want to enjoy your life, right? So try this trick and I think you'll be surprised at the results. Happy life = happy mind/body soul and vice versa -- and who doesn't want that?