Ever since I started college, I’ve been told to “stay in the moment.” At first, I really tried to. I would take my time day by day and savor every moment. However, as time went on and my responsibilities increased, I could feel myself losing sight of the present and almost exclusively looking to the future. I would worry excessively about what was coming next and never took the time to experience each moment for what it was. I felt like I was living every day as if it were the next.
This issue of constantly seeing the present as a stepping stone or obstacle made my college experience incredibly difficult. I was always stressed, never made time for fun, and always felt behind. I eventually realized that my perspective was the most significant cause of my difficulty. I viewed the present as something to get past instead of something to experience.
Over time, I’ve developed strategies to remedy this feeling in my daily life. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to take things one day at a time and feel the moments you’re in, good or bad. I know it sounds cliche, but it really works. I used to schedule assignments a week in advance (excessive, I know) so that I could get them done early. I rarely was able to stick to this schedule, and as a result, I constantly felt behind. Now, I try to give myself just enough time to get assignments done without working on them so far in advance. I do this by making a checklist and slowly adding items from it to my planner each day. This has helped me remain organized while taking the time to enjoy college again. I’ve also started only handling matters concerning my future when it’s necessary. For example, I’ve only recently started seriously researching law schools, while past me would have had everything planned ages ago. I have two years left of undergrad, so planning is necessary, but it doesn’t have to be stressful or done all at once. Breaking things up can make things seem slower and help you cherish every moment.
I’ve also tried to experience the moments I’m in fully. Whether they’re times with friends, times stressing out over projects or anything in between, I take moments as they come. Even when I’m stressed, I try to feel the stress just as much as I do when I’m happy. For example, when I’m out with friends, I try to block out the never-ending pull of my responsibilities. For just those few hours, I can focus on having fun instead of the expanding list of things I must do to prepare for my future. Whether they’re good or bad, these moments will be the ones I reflect on for the rest of my life. They all deserve the same attention as my future because they play a part in it and will determine how I experience it.
It’s important to remember that what you’re doing right now contributes to your future, but it’s not your future. These are two different points in your life. Just because one comes after the other does not mean the current one should lose its value. The place you’re in now deserves just as much celebration and attention as where you’re headed.