Get ready with me to study! I study the best in my matching Roller Rabbit pajama set, Dior undereye hydrating patches, red light therapy mask and Beats over-the-ear headphones!
Productivity is no longer a simple act of sitting down and getting your work done. Instead, it has become a performative activity to flaunt how many products you have that allow you to “productivity maxx.”
Don’t get me wrong, social media is great. It shows me new tips, tools, opinions and information that I would have never been introduced to otherwise. Until I see the videos of kids my age excelling in life, living my dream, succeeding beyond measure and making me look like a total failure.
I also sometimes feel like I can’t be productive until I’ve acquired everything that the social media influencers have so that I can study aesthetically. Oh yeah, I’d totally study and get a 100% on my exam, except I don’t have that hibiscus infused face mask that enhances your memory retention.
I feel like I constantly have to be doing something, and the moment that I sit down to relax, I am filled with guilt. Who is the next person surpassing me because I’m taking a break? This feeling of dread only consumes me more as the days get shorter and I struggle to pull myself out of bed every morning to go to class.
It’s sort of ironic how the most important time of the semester (finals season) happens to be during the coldest and darkest time of the year. Our bodies aren’t built to stay awake until the early morning just to study for an exam. In fact, our bodies are more likely to be lethargic and have difficulties getting tasks done during this time period, so don’t be so hard on yourself.
The idea that I often overlook is that every person is experiencing or has experienced a feeling very similar to mine. The feeling of being lost, not doing enough or not having enough experience. However, the people who were able to overcome these feelings are the ones who realized that it is okay to ask for help and it is okay to take a break. I often put a reality check on myself by remembering that I’m only 19.
There are no expectations that I have to meet except the ones that I put on myself. Why do we constantly have to stress ourselves out over social constraints that don’t actually exist? We use a microscope to examine every flaw and mistake, but at 19, we aren’t even halfway through our lives. Why criticize our minds when, like us, they are still growing?
Being burnt out near the end of the semester is not a new feeling, and unfortunately, it will continue to persist until you take action about it. We can all start by taking a step back and truly understanding and appreciating ourselves for who we are. There is no one to compare ourselves to, and no matter where you are in life, there is enough time. Don’t rush to get to the finish line. It’s so cliche, but remember, it’s about the journey, not the destination.