Imagine this: you're zoning out and become lost in a world of your fears. Sick to your stomach you're constantly wondering "What if?" In front of you, a million incomplete projects tower, yet your focus is on none of them. As you open your textbook in an attempt to study, you're still too lost in the world of your fears to focus. You hardly perceive the ringing of your phone and nearly miss the call. You answer the phone with hopes of good news but your stomach drops as your worst fears are confirmed.

For the average college student, it's hard enough as it is to learn to be on your own as a new adult, let alone have to deal with things like drama among your social groups, family issues, and relationship struggles. Often, in times like this, people get too caught up in all of these distractions and forget where their priorities lie. In fact, because of stress, everything can become a distraction to you.

See? Even that picture was a distraction.

School often asks you to set aside your priorities in order to focus on your work. School Itself is designed to take up most of your days. Ultimately your cares take over your mind. Maybe your mom is in the hospital, or your best friend is traveling overseas. Maybe you can't get your thoughts away from a relationship that has run off with your heart, or maybe you're an international student who can't help but feel homesick because you won't be home for Christmas. Whatever your distraction is, we all have something that takes priority over school.

Now that we've covered that, the fact remains that school is still a priority itself so how can you balance all your priorities without stressing yourself out? The answer is simple actually. Don't beat yourself up about being distracted. It's perfectly normal to have a hard time quieting your ever thinking brain to focus on one thing. School hardly ever takes priority over family and loved ones and if we're honest with ourselves that's okay. It's okay to take breaks when you need them. It's okay to leave to take an important call If you're in class. Stressed out? It's okay to buy ice cream. Need more sleep? It's okay to take a nap and then go back to studying. You work better overall when you take time for yourself and your loved ones. People have physical needs that are important to be taken care of and you can't forget it's also important to take care of your emotional needs as well.

Life get's distracting, but don't worry. Take a sip of your coffee. Breathe in. Breathe out. It'll all be okay.