Life can get hectic, especially when you are in college trying to balance school, relationships, social life, family, health, and personal commitments. Because of this, I believe that an important skill that college students and people, in general, should learn is how to know your priorities and keep them set in your mind as you go through everyday life.
How does one decide their priorities? Think about what means the most to you in your life right now. Is it your family, your education, your friends, your faith? By making a list of what you want to keep closest to yourself, you will know where your priorities lie.
It is one thing to know what your priorities are, and it is a whole other thing to be able to honor them in your daily life. Distractions can easily bog down your motivation and focus, especially when the things distracting you are so much more attractive and exciting than the priority you are focusing on. It's hard to stay in when you have a big exam on Monday. However, in the end, you are working towards your future and making a successful, grounded life for yourself. Parties last one night, an education and good work ethic last a lifetime.
Sure, it's hard. I get overwhelmed with work and school and friends every day. It gets to the point where one thing can set you over the edge. For me the other day, it was my Panda Express box falling apart because the teriyaki sauce made it soggy. No joke, I erupted.
Well, it wasn't just the Panda box, it was the Panda box on top of having buckets of homework, three exams, sorority tasks, laundry, and overwhelming exhaustion that pushed me over the edge.
So how did I get through the fatal Panda box episode? Just breathing. My boyfriend gave me the best pep talk I have heard in a while. All my fellow college students, you are all bosses. We get our work done and have the time of our lives doing it. You should all be proud of yourselves because balancing so much is not easy.
So, here are some of my tips for keeping your life centered, happy, and prioritized.
First, surround yourself with supportive and influential friends. If you are surrounded by people who inspire you and make you want to be better, you have the right friends. Your friends are the people that work with you, play with you, and everything in between.
Second, stay motivated. Everything you are doing right now is helping you to have a happier future. You are creating the life you will live for the next 80 years. Do whatever you can to make those 80 years incredible. If that means staying in to study for an exam you have on Monday, so be it.
Finally, find a purpose for your life, a reason you wake up in the morning. In Japan, they call this your Ikigai, or your purpose in life. By having a central mission and goal, you have a reason to do everything you do. Your actions and priorities should be centered around your purpose. As a result, your life will have meaning and purpose.
