We've all been there - it's only Monday morning and all you can think about when you wake up is everything that you have to do the upcoming week. Truthfully, it can feel like a massive dark cloud is hanging over you, and the pressure to get everything done (and do it well) may slow you down more. There's nothing worse than having a long to-do list and relatively no time to complete it.
If you're like me, you know that being a full-time college student is enough pressure in itself. When you add on 10-15 hours per week at an internship, 18 hours a week at a part-time job, weekly volunteer responsibilities, and the task of writing two blog posts per week, you start to go a little crazy sometimes. In addition to that, there is the pressure to start applying for jobs (don't forget - graduation is in two and a half months!), the burden of paying bills each month, trying to get a decent amount of sleep each night so you can function properly, and of course, trying to maintain a social life.
While it's important to stay on track with school, get real-world experience in your major, earn money, and make time for extracurricular activities, it should never feel suffocating. Sometimes, you have to say no when your friends ask you to go out Saturday night. You may need to release that Thursday night shift at work and use the time to write a paper (or maybe just get some much-needed sleep). You may need to step down from volunteering for a few weeks to rejuvenate. And, guess what? That's okay.
I often struggle with disappointing people. I never want to say no, whether it's to a professor, a friend, my parents, or even myself. I hate admitting that I can't do everything. If I'm being honest, I want people to look at me and think, "How does she do it all?" I want to be able to hand in an A-worthy research paper, lead my group project, write killer blog posts, help coordinate events for my internship, volunteer every week and go out with my friends, all the while maintaining an effortless disposition. Look, that's not realistic.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath. Remember that you are human and can only do so much. Remember that you don't have anything to prove to anyone. Remember that you have gotten this far, and you will go even farther. The stress is temporary, and it doesn't have to take over your life. Your friends will manage without you for one Saturday night. You won't end up completely broke by giving up one shift at work. Your professor will actually end up loving your research paper, even though you finished fifteen minutes before it was due (but she doesn't have to know that).
Most importantly, remember to take care of yourself. Feeling stressed and overwhelmed can actually have some very negative effects on our bodies - ones that can last long-term. So make time for healthy meals, for sleep, for yoga, for bubble baths and whatever else you do to take care of yourself. Learn from the challenges, and face every week knowing that you are so capable of all that is on your plate. You wouldn't have been given this much responsibility if you couldn't handle it in the first place. You've got this.
