No matter your age or what stage you are at in life, there comes a time when you are overwhelmed by stress. All of the sudden everything piles up. You have thousands of things to worry about and your “to-do” list is never-ending.

For me, it seems like syllabus week was last week, but instead, I find myself drowning in midterms and deadlines.

When you feel like the world is crushing you, it’s so easy to want to give up, to crawl into your bed and never get up. Or maybe you want to rush to get everything done, even if it means sacrificing your health.

The thing is, no matter what that “to-do” list will get done.

But, it won’t get done before you take time for yourself — before you put yourself first.

So, take time to go to Target. Eat that pint of ice cream all by yourself. Go on a walk. Watch that movie you’ve been wanting to watch for weeks. Go on a walk. Workout. Most importantly, breathe.

Smell the roses— even though you’re overwhelmed by work or maybe you’re even at a low in life, the world is still spinning. There is still so much beautiful life around you. Take a moment to appreciate your surroundings. You are going to reach a high sometime soon and everything will be so worth it. Don’t ever forget that.

And even if in the middle of all of this, some things on your “to-do” list don’t get completed in the time frame you wanted them to… it’s OK. If some things get pushed to the back burner… it’s OK.

As long as you don’t get pushed to the back-burner, it’s OK. Because you’re not even a thing. You are a person greater than anything on your “to-do” list.

Believe in this. Believe in your self-worth. Remember, that as long as you take time for yourself everything will be OK. Your “to-do” list will get completed and the stress will pass. I promise.