One thing my mother always taught me as a teenager was that if you overwork yourself, the stress will just pile and pile and pile on until you're a squashed bug going "help me! help me!" under the garbage. Whenever I find myself getting overworked about classes, exams, or work, my mother's voice always comes back to my head (like mothers do) going "you have to HALT." Never let yourself get too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired.
1. Never let yourself get too Hungry.
I don't know about anyone else, but when I am hungry, I turn into a raging beast ready to tear up an entire town. Being hungry just causes you to get moody, irritated, and sluggish. As a college student though, it can be hard to find time (and money) to eat. Constantly going from class to class and then work leaves you with only little pieces of the day to grab a bite. To combat this issue, I carry little snacks with me in my purse when I know the day is going to be packed with things to do. That way, you can sort of hold the hunger beast at bay until you can actually have a real meal.
2. Never let yourself get too Angry.
Have you ever said something when you were angry and then immediately regretted it once the anger was gone? I know I have. We're humans, we can't help from getting riled up from time to time, but when you stay in that angry mindset, anything and everything will probably make you irritated. Now obviously, if a man stole your daughter in France and tried to sell her into trafficking, you can get all the angry you want (I'm looking at you, Liam Neeson), but on a day to day basis, being angry just takes a toll on you. Feeling happy feels good. Whenever I find myself getting worked up, I try to take a deep breath and really assess WHY I'm feeling like this, instead of just immediately reacting. This is something that took a while for me to learn, because when I'm angry, everything is red (red red red red, red red red red).
3. Never let yourself get too Lonely.
This is honestly a serious problem of mine. Whenever I get upset, I like to box everyone out from around me. I sit and wallow in my own bubble, and it can be hard to pull yourself out of that. Finding people who will be there for you and genuinely listen to your daily problems is a blessing. It can make you feel very vulnerable to open up to people about the things in your head that they can't see, but if you keep all that stuff locked up in there for only you to see, then you'll only feel more alone. Now, I'm not saying you should immediately go to your friends and tell them your deepest, darkest secrets, but baby steps will even provide the slightest help in getting you out of a funk. And sometimes, life is just better with family and friends around. Growing up, my friends and I would have sleepovers where we would honestly just sit in the same room while playing Sims on our laptops separately, but it always felt nice to know someone was there (unless of course, the someone is a stalker).
4. Never let yourself get too Tired.
Before you start to laugh and say "this is impossible," just hear me out. We all know how terrible we feel when we're tired. It's not something to be romanticized; there is no joy, talent, or superiority in being tired. Living off of coffee is not what your body needs. Being tired really just sucks. I've worked straight night shifts for the entirety of my senior year of nursing school, and that constant day to night sleep switch has honestly taken its toll on me. I am noticeably less concentrated, less energized, and less happy. If you can get more sleep, then do it. It feels so much better in the long-run. If you cannot get more sleep, I recommend a Dunkin Donuts caramel machiatto and sheer willpower.
HALT. Have you listened to your body today?
