Life goes by very quickly, sometimes like a blur, whether it’s a moment, a week, a month or a year. In today’s world, we very rarely get to stop and smell and enjoy the roses, the little things that make us up as people.

Unfortunately, life can also get very difficult very quickly sometimes seeming too much for you to handle. It's too easy to get caught up in the turbulence of whatever life throws your way, but eventually, it may all become too overwhelming.

Overwhelming can be defined differently for each person. What is too much for one person but may be nothing to another, however, there is always something next and something exciting to get caught up with, in every individual’s life, but as that trend continues, it becomes impossible to find any time for yourself.

It seems as if in today’s society every minute is scheduled to fit responsibilities and activities, and if it's not, people tend to ask themselves why they don’t have something to do as opposed to stopping and enjoying the moment to breathe. What is critically important that many forget today is that you should never lose hold of that personal time for a myriad of reasons.

By "you time", I don't mean anything specific. I don't mean that you have to lock yourself in your room by yourself and stare at a wall. I mean that you need to find the time to decompress and relax; do something that comforts you.

If this means sitting and binging Netflix, then do it. If this means painting a picture, then do it. If it means going to the gym to work off your stress, then do it. There is no correct way to take your personal time, but having the ability to dedicate a little bit of time to do what makes you happy is so important for your mental health. Trust me, it will help to keep you going through the structured schedule we call life.

You can use this time to relax physically and/or mentally, but you don't have to. As long as you are able to engage in something that makes you feel happy, comfortable and content, then it is "you time". Life can be difficult, especially when it feels as though you are beginning to drown in everything that you have going on. The importance of "you time" lies in the fact that it is used as an escape from the stress of reality, even if it is just for a few moments, it will re-energize you in so many ways.

It sometimes seems impossible to carve out these slivers of time to keep to yourself, but they are necessary in order to relieve stress. In your head, you can’t and have no time and it's not important, but in reality, you can and you will be much better off for it.

These bits of "you time" don't have to be hours on end. They can be a few minutes between assignments or study breaks. Personally, I find it most impactful if I take the ends of my nights to decompress after long days, but that doesn't mean that a cup of coffee in the morning isn't just as successful. It all depends on personal preference. All that matters is that you set aside a bit of time as often as possible in order to step back from your stressful life.

Don’t let people pressure you into overbooking yourself. While there are many times that you will probably experience FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), it is usually not worth it to attend events or involve yourself in activities that will overcrowd your schedule, because sometimes that extra party or gathering will do more harm then good if your cup is running over.

There will always be another party or another time to hang out. If you feel as though you won't have any time to yourself, don't add another thing to your plate. There are only twenty-four hours in a day for everyone, no more, no less, so it's unwise to commit yourself to too many of them.

"You time" is what keeps you held together, don't compromise that. In a very “me first” oriented society, this is the one time where “YOU” should ALWAYS come first!