The first time I missed a class was three weeks into college. It was a Psychology 101 lecture at 9:30 a.m. — nothing atrociously early. Still, I could not get out of bed for the life of me. Usually, I placate my exhaustion by letting myself hit snooze a couple of times, but something inside me that morning shut down. I turned my entire phone off and slept until noon, just in time to get to my second class of the day.

Sleeping through class is something almost every college student experiences sooner or later. Some even do so on a regular basis, but I promised myself that I wouldn’t make a habit of it. At the time I was balancing an ever-growing workload and Rush Week, which anyone in Greek life knows is unequivocally physically and emotionally draining.

Homework nights gradually spilled into the early hours of the morning, and there seemed to be a perpetual feeling of exhaustion within me. Taking that one morning to sleep in was something I desperately needed.

And here’s the thing: I don’t feel ashamed or guilty at all.

Everyone needs a break every once in awhile because the education system is demanding. Most of us just went through 13 consecutive years of school and, for better or for worse, we’re not breaking this streak in college.

We’re in Year 14 of this constant grind, so it’s no surprise that we’re tired and burning out. We need that extra sleep.

Of course, there’s always the question of how to make up the material you missed. Unless it’s an emergency, you should never skip a test or presentation day as professors typically don’t allow make-ups for these kinds of things.

However, missing out on a lecture or a few participation points won’t make or break your grade if you stay on top of assignments. If your professor posts his or her Powerpoints or lecture notes online, it’s always a good idea to review them on your own time.

Staying on top of any reading will help lessen homework-related stress, increase your retention and understanding of the material, and get you to bed earlier so that you’re not so tired the next day.

The most helpful tip I can give you is to make sure you have at least one person in each of your classes to talk to.

You don’t have to be best friends with them, but it’s always a plus to have someone’s notes to go through when you do have that sleeping break.

Since skipping that lecture, I have slept through a couple of other classes too. I needed that personal time to recharge and collect myself when starting college.

Still, while hitting that snooze button and staying in bed always feels nice, it’s important to use these mental breaks sparingly.

That is, don’t dive back under the covers every single time you’re tired. Taking care of your well-being is undeniably important, but that doesn’t alleviate you of your responsibilities as a student.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to stay on top of your school work and get ahead in your assignments if possible. Turn off that Netflix, skip that party and crack open those textbooks.
You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel when academic stress isn’t looming over you.