We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~ Thornton Wilder
The semester is starting to come to a close, which might mean a few things for collegiettes. Sometimes it means being up late at night finishing projects, cramming for hours in the library, or skipping class to finish a paper. Suddenly, we have no free time!
It’s usually around this time that we start to neglect ourselves. We get preoccupied with classes, assignments, internships, work, etc. and don’t take a second to appreciate ourselves.
When you get stressed over a deadline or a test, don’t focus on the negative. Take a second to readjust and begin to see the positive in life. By deciding to adopt a positive mental attitude, you’ll begin to feel better about yourself. An optimistic person spreads positivity to everyone in her life, and what could be better than seeing other people smile?
Take time this week to acknowledge the positives in your life and make time for yourself. There are plenty of ways to do this; here are some of my favorites!
1. After you wake up, take a moment to plan your objectives for the day. Make reasonable goals and accomplish them. Write down a list of everything you need to do and cross it out once you finish. Sometimes I write the simplest things on my list, like “brush your teeth” or “eat lunch,” just so I can cross them out! Be proud that you were able to accomplish all that you did in the day!
2. Take a minute for yourself. Don’t keep focusing on what you need to do, and take a moment to live in the present.
3. Do not talk about other people. Gossip can be fun but face it, does it really make you feel better about yourself? Like you’ve probably heard since you were young, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” This is true. By gossiping, you’re building up negativity.
4. When something goes wrong, don’t sweat it. What is the worst thing that could happen if you forget an assignment or don’t finish something in time? I am not advocating for you to be a slacker, but you shouldn’t be so hard on yourself. It’s easy to get frustrated when something goes wrong, which often creates a domino effect throughout your day. Take time to recognize your mistake and be proactive. Talk to your professor about turning in an assignment late or think about what you can do to prevent this from happening again, and then move on.
5. Be an optimist. Say to yourself, “I can do this. I will do this.” And you will.
6. Before going to bed, write down a list of everything you were thankful or grateful for that day. I write down at least 10 things before I go to sleep. You can be grateful for anything, big or small. Today I am thankful for accomplishing my goals, oreos and peanut butter, making new friends and warm socks. What are you thankful for? Ease your mind, and smile! Â