After an entire summer of being surrounded by the buzz of D.C., I have found my way back to Indiana only to be starting school next week. And what am I doing this week? I will be working a food stand at the Indiana State Fair. Life flies by, and time is a really strange thing. What would happen if we all took the time to just slow down?

If you are anything like me, it is a week away from classes and your stress levels are rising every day. Your brain is working 100 miles a minute trying to wrap itself around all the tasks you need to be doing and the time you don't have to do it. It's rushing from one thought to the next, and you are going absolutely crazy. This is not OK. Instead, what if we just took a moment to completely stop. I understand it is easier said than done, but there is an art to this that I think we could all accomplish.

Maybe the first step to taking a step back is giving yourself one hour to do something you haven't given yourself time for recently. It could be reading a book, one that isn't class related, or it might be taking a bath, painting, going for a run or even taking a nap. All it takes is one hour of something completely unrelated to your looming responsibilities to let your mind recharge.

Next, you should prioritize those responsibilities. I know it is daunting to see your massive to do list on a piece of paper, but if you can visualize what it is you need to get done, you can establish which task is most important and start checking things off your list. Planning may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I would honestly be lost without my Passion Planner. Planning may also sound like it is going to make things more stressful, but you can't slow down if you don't have a realistic idea of what is on your plate each day or week.

So now what? You have given yourself time for self-care and you've planned it all out, so that means it is time to get it done. Buckle down and conquer those responsibilities one day at a time. Don't think about all the stuff you have to do two weeks from now; that is exactly why we get so stressed out! It is absolutely necessary to take each task one by one and life day by day. You really won't be able to slow down if you continue worrying about the next thing lying ahead. For me, that is the most difficult part.

Finally, after kicking those responsibilities in the behind, make sure you take the time to enjoy life and call your friends. Sometimes, it is easy to get so caught up in your own world that you forget to reach out to your closest allies and biggest support system. They probably need a reminder to slow down, too.

Too often we forget that it takes three aspects to achieve a balanced life: social, physical and mental. And too often as a student we pick one aspect and run with it. It isn't healthy, and it isn't fun. I know there will be days and weeks that it will seem impossible to focus on anything other than classes or club work, but it is essential to take a break, slow down and enjoy life, too.