Episode 15: Doing it All

At my worst, I missed school 2-3 times a week. I couldn’t deal with the day to day commitments and expectations. Now here I am two years later, missing class and finding it hard to face my day to day commitments and expectations. I thought I was better, heck I always think I am better… until I’m not. Until I am sitting in a shack in the middle of Kyle Field Plaza trying to figure out what my next steps are. I know what sadness feels like and I know what it takes for me to be happy again but right now I am sitting at the bottom of a mountain that seems too tall to climb. I did this to myself: I took 16 hours of classes, took on two leadership positions, and joined numerous organizations. I asked for the stress and sleepless nights, in a sense I asked for the sadness. I never felt pressure from my parents to do the best and be the best, all the pressure comes from myself and the standards that I hold myself to. I have let my mental health fall to the wayside because I have been giving my all to my organizations and academics, in that order. So I am here to say that is it okay to not do it all. I get it, FOMO is real: but so is depression and anxiety, which will be your reality if you don’t slow down. Ask for help. If you took on too many responsibilities, simply reach out to someone who can help. Get sleep. I don’t care how much homework you have or who is texting you, a good nights sleep can make a world of difference for your overall wellbeing. Make lists. Take it day by day and list out the things that need to be done: crossing things off of that list will be the most rewarding thing ever. Take a break. Miss a meeting, skip a class, or choose to stay in for the night; do what you need to do to be okay. Do NOT take on more responsibilities. Do NOT resort to hurting yourself. Do NOT resort to hurting others. Take a step back, breathe, and let life happen. You are LOVED. You are NEEDED. You are ENOUGH.