Crashout, burnout, senioritis? Whatever it is called, I definitely have it. The end of the semester is here, and that semester-long research project is knocking at my door. Final projects compete for my attention daily. And it feels like I am tied to a chair with my responsibilities circling around me, screaming, “Which one will you choose today?”

Sleep is a choice now, one that means either three hours or fifteen hours. There is no in between because, either way, I am exhausted by 2 p.m. and begging for a nap. In a conversation with a mentor, she told me about all the different responsibilities she was juggling: hiring interns, applying for grants, kickstarting programs, and still somehow taking care of herself. 

One Day At a Time

During this time of the semester, the responsibilities are definitely piling up. Making sure you have time for each project, to study, attending lectures, securing that internship, showing up for your friends and their glorious work being showcased. But through all of that, where is the time to make sure that you are okay? 

In the same conversation with a mentor, I was reminded that though I have all these responsibilities that require nearly every ounce of my attention, I still have a responsibility to show up for myself. To make sure that I am eating, and that the amount of caffeine I drink doesn’t overpower the amount of water I am drinking. That skipping meals to make sure an assignment gets done no longer goes overlooked. That skincare, sleep, and exercising are just as important, even though it is finals week. It is pretty easy to get lost in schoolwork; routines fall short; and something as simple as cooking a meal for yourself seems too hard or takes too much time, so a quick snack would suffice to get you through the night. 

But taking care of yourself is not always glamorous, and academically, it can look very different. Sometimes, it is giving yourself structure when the tasks are piling on can make the overwhelming workload feel a little less crushing. It is also easier said than done. Take care of yourself. Sleep. Eat. Go outside. Trust me, I know it is annoying with these repetitive phrases. 

But why not show up for yourself the same way you show up for the grade? 

Scratching Away

Within the next two weeks, my four final projects are due. All of which require extensive reading, lab time, planning and design. Throughout April, I have been trying to figure out just how I was going to manage these while also going to work, attending lectures, and doing all the other things in life. And I made a small, yet effective plan for myself. 

One big task and a couple of smaller tasks for the day. 

The big task is always reading or writing. Half of that time I am combing through databases looking for an article that supports my research, and the other half is spent reading and determining if it is actually usable. For writing, it is word vomit away and edit later. As long as something gets done, an article is listed in the works cited, and a page or two is written. I can sleep without guilt. Small tasks can be a variety of things, such as design, planning for the next day, editing, or discussion. 

It is easy to get caught up in all the different tasks you have to do for the day; lists are where I thrive. A physical, reasonable list of things to accomplish for the day. Sometimes that list gets done, and sometimes only two are scratched off. But hey, something got done today.

One last thing that has been working for me is when I lose focus. I find myself rereading a section, or I can no longer explain what I just read and can’t figure out where to go next. It is time to close the laptop and step away for a second. Our brains are working overtime and deserve a little grace too. Call a friend, or get yourself that treat you have been thinking about all day. 

Give Yourself Grace

During my entire academic career, this time of year has been dreaded from day one. It has taken me a long time to figure out how to get through it and to lose that part of myself that compares others. I am a first-semester senior taking it one day at a time. Trying to figure it all out with a constant worry on my shoulder that I am not doing enough.

But I remind myself that the sun will still rise tomorrow if I finish a little early instead of staying up all night. That document is saved, and ArcGIS did not lose my project when I logged off. That success is only measured in what I deem it to be, and I will get through this semester just as I have done plenty of times before. And that A I am chasing will only be an A if I don’t make myself sick with stress. 

You’re doing great, I just know it!

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