College is hard. It comes with a lot of new expectations and pressures. You have to go to classes every day and get all your homework done. You also have to be involved with different organizations. You have to get straight A's. You might have to get a job. It is hard to keep up with all of it, but I'm here to tell you that sometimes it's okay to take a break.
Throughout my experience in college, no one has ever told me that it's okay to take a break. I don't think anyone thinks it's okay to take a break. All the students around me are rushing to get their homework done, rushing to get to class on time, rushing to work, rushing everything. I'm telling you it's okay to slow down and take a break. Learning to focus on one day at a time helps so much, and honestly, sometimes that's the only thing you can do.
College is absolutely something to take seriously, but it's also a time to figure out who you are and enjoy life. I'm not saying go out and party every night and neglect your homework, but I am saying sometimes it's okay to not be "the perfect student". One day none of this will matter anymore. Sure, you'll have your degree and a nice job, but it's not going to matter that you made a B in your physics class or that you didn't do that one assignment that was worth 25 points. Put yourself first. This is your life, not your parent's life or your professor's life. You know what's best for you.
If skipping a class is what you need to do to feel better, do it. Sometimes you just need a break, and that's completely okay. (If you do so happen to follow my advice be sure that you won't miss anything super important.) I wish I would have learned sooner that the most important thing you can do is take care of yourself, even if it seems like it's not the right thing to do, sometimes it absolutely is.
If you have to choose between doing an assignment that's only worth a few points or going out to a concert with your friends, go out instead. Of course, don't go crazy with it. I'm not saying you should do this once a week or even once a semester, but sometimes "life points" are more important than your assigned tasks for the day. Think about it: next semester or even next year are you going to remember that you got an A in your class or are you going to remember that awesome night you had with your friends?
College is not only a time to learn the things you need to know in order to be a successful professional, but also a time to learn how to value and take care of yourself. You are so much more important than an assignment or a grade, so do what you need to do for you and don't let anyone or anything get in the way of that.
