Fast forward 4 weeks from the start. Welcome Week is a distant memory, you have more hours of work than hours in the day, and you long for the Canada goose waiting in your home closet. For us here at Michigan, this is reality. The saying “work hard, play hard” has become mostly work, and stress is a word used in every other sentence.
So yeah, life wasn’t the fun and games it was when we first got here as young innocent freshmen.
So what?! There are ways to avoid feeling like you are trapped under 100 textbooks, starting with coffee of course.
MAKE TIME.
I know I know, there’s only 24 precious hours in the day. It seems like there is never enough time to do everything, but in reality there always is. Coffee will become your best friend in the world. It is there for you when no one else is, and no matter what, it’ll never let you down. Once you have a large coffee in hand, it’s time to get down to business. Start by making a list. You may surprise yourself when there aren’t a million things to do, but just a few large tasks! Next, prioritize. Maybe you should hold off on the sushi date you had with friends and start on the homework assignment due at 10 am the next morning. Don’t tackle too much, take it one step at a time, and I promise that laundry list of tasks will turn into a small, concise, finished off list!
You’re not dying.
It’s that time of year ago, the time where coughs turn into fevers and sniffles become strep throat. It’s cold out, you love your bed more than your friends, and slowly but surely you begin to have an emotional attachment to hot chocolate with whipped cream. You may feel like you’re the only one slowly suffocating in your bed with 102 fever, but look around, you’re not alone! If you aren’t taken Advil, you’re doing something wrong. It will become your best friend, only friend, and lifelong soulmate. Most importantly, don’t forget to sleep! The more you sleep, the closer you will be to getting healthy and back on your feet. Power through, you can do it I believe in you!
BREATHE, You’re Doing Great!
When things get crazy and you question your ability to balance your entire life, just breathe. It’s all going to be okay, and before you know if you’re going to laugh at the hectic life you had just yesterday. Most importantly, Don’t forget to have fun! Just because the carefree life is over and you remember why you actually came to school doesn’t mean the party has to end. Life is all about balance, and if you’re not enjoying yourself, then what’s the point?!
