How to Deal When School/Life Speeds Up

Happy October everyone!

Time is flying by, which means we’re getting into the thick of fall semester. I don’t know about you guys, but my workload definitely continued to increase as the month of September went on. It’s also still football season which means cheer has been crazy, and I’m about to have my first yearbook deadline. Combine that with clubs starting up again, volunteering, and attempting to have a social life- yeah, it’s a lot. I’m sure a ton of you are in similar situations, so I wanted to talk about how we can all get through this!

Block out a day on your calendar (preferably a weekend day) – The reason I say preferably a weekend day is because you’ll have more of the day free; this is key to getting things done but also having time to relax. This day can be your one day of relaxation, it can be your full day of social time with friends, it can be getting ahead on work so the next few days of school are more laid-back, it can be whatever you want. Just block it off as your time to decide for yourself what you want to do.
Keep up with self-care – This is super important for your mental health!! Maintain good hygiene, take the time to eat proper meals, shower, etc. Use meditation apps or listen to music to relax before bed, and try to make your environment as relaxing as possible (i.e. light candles).
Drop things you’re not enjoying – It goes without saying, but your schedule doesn’t have to be so jam-packed. If you realize there’s a commitment or two you have that you’re really not into anymore and are taking up tons of your time, see if you can drop/quit them. Obviously do this within reason (if you have one bad sports practice, don’t quit your sport for good), but this can be such a huge relief.
Get a good sleep – Do not sacrifice sleep for studying and schoolwork. Budget your time so that you can get at least seven hours of sleep (I find nine is preferable for me) – you’ll perform so much better in school during the day, and you’ll feel so much better. I also read somewhere that the most successful students get a lot of sleep, so there’s that.

Remember during all those long nights of schoolwork and studying that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Do what you enjoy in your free time, and it will make it so much easier to continue working during school hours. Above all, prioritize your mental health and keep in mind that everything will work out, and we will get through this school year!

-Brooke