For as long as I have been in school, I've been a procrastinator.

I never knew when—or how—to stop. Even after years and years of telling myself "Knock it off and get focused!," I still procrastinate to the last possible minute. Sometimes I procrastinate beyond the last possible minute and hate myself the next day when I skip class to make up the work that was due.

As bad as I feel about my choices, I also know that they are not entirely whimsical.

This is a realization that has taken me a long time to recognize but is one that I value immensely, especially as I'm finishing up my undergrad:

Over anything else, I need to be happy and healthy.

Now, this is a general statement and can certainly change along with different circumstances that I find myself in. But ultimately, if I'm miserable, then I know that I'm doing something wrong.

This is the first year that my health has actually been impacted by the amount of stress I am under. This stress doesn't come because I procrastinate; it comes because of how involved I am with academics and adding to my resume.

Procrastinating is the way I cope with this stress and how I recharge my metaphorical batteries; it's not a weakness, rather, but a necessity to maintain my mental and physical health.

If we focus so intensely on our studies, jobs, or other aspects of our lives, and allow ourselves to suffer because of it, we are not doing the right thing for ourselves. This is why having an amazing work ethic but neglecting our bodies and minds to maintain this work ethic is not something to be coveted.

I never want to be the kind of person who appears to have a perfectly maintained life on the outside but is suffering immensely on the inside. Invisible wounds are entirely real and I'm doing my best to avoid them when it comes to things I can control.

When I procrastinate, I'm doing it out of care and concern for my body and mind. I'm doing it because I need that time for myself to do things I enjoy. I'm doing it because I know that after recharging, I can dive back into my studies, get work done, and perform as an "A" student without killing myself in the process. I pick and choose my battles, especially for when and why to miss a deadline, but I always come back around, full-force, to make up for that.

It's time we take a look at how we balance our health and our responsibilities. It's never okay to let one suffer while the other thrives, but if we can find a happy medium between the two, we will come to realize that we are capable of achieving anything if we give ourselves time away from the stresses of our daily lives.