College life is filled with non-stop excitement. From tests, to parties, to late-night adventures, to afternoon coffee dates there’s always something going on. Whether these non-stop plans are coming from your friend group or are university sponsored, you can always find something fun to occupy your time. However, it is so easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of it all and neglect our personal needs. Because we’re still young and learning from our mistakes, far too often we end up giving up a part of our life in order to fill our lives with more and more excitement. What we tend to sacrifice is a good night of sleep or just some relaxation time. Although the non-stop bustle may be fun, it’s also important to sit back and RELAX.

You may think it’s necessary to pull an all-nighter the day before your big O-Chem test (and granted, sometimes it is necessary if you intend to do well), but it’s also important to take time to just enjoy life even in the midst of all everything that’s going on. And although you might want to keep a busy schedule from 9 am-5pm filled with studying, class, and whatever else you have on your plate, sometimes it’s important to take that hour long nap or some personal time for Netflix. Or maybe you just need to go on a long drive with the windows down or throw a 2 hour dance party in your living room. Whatever “taking it easy” looks like for you, don’t forget to make time for it. By giving in to the non-stop stress cycle it is so easy to skip out on taking time to make sure you’re carving out time for things that make you happy and bring your life meaning.

When you’re stressed and know you need a break, go ahead and take it! College is about so much more than a 4.0. It’s about learning how to handle the craziness of life on your own and making long-lasting relationships that’ll surpass the importance of a perfect GPA.