Recently, I have found myself experiencing somewhat of a “Junior Year Slump”. I would rather stay in bed than go to class, and go to bed early instead of socializing on the weekends. I think that with the end of the semester quickly approaching, I am beginning to dread the same routine I maintain every day: Gym, Shower, Class, Work, Sleep. I feel like my life is a playlist that is stuck on repeat.
That being said, I have definitely tried my best to switch up my day to day routine to add a little “spice” to my life. I started dressing up for class occasionally, trying new study spots, and rewarding myself with my favorite Starbucks order at the end of a long week. While this is fun and refreshing, I still find myself dreading the ordinary moments in between.
Recently, though, I have begun to wonder if I am looking at this completely wrong. Maybe it’s not that my days are too busy, mundane, or somewhere in between. It might be that I have been wishing so long for something different that I forget to appreciate the life that I am currently living.
I think that sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in all the big things in life, that we forget to focus on the small things that are just as important.I try to remind myself that “One day, I’ll miss these things” to put into perspective just how lucky I really am. I know I’ll miss spontaneously getting lunch with my friends, and my biggest worry being finishing an English paper before midnight. I also know I will definitely miss my friends all living within a 5 minute radius of me. Someday, I won’t be able to see familiar faces on campus or know exactly where I am supposed to be at 10am on a Tuesday.
So, if you are anything like me and find yourself in a slump, remind yourself of all the beautiful things life has to offer. I need to remind myself to slow down, and I truly think that’s advice we should all consider every once in a while. Wear the outfit you were saving for a “special occasion”. Splurge on an overpriced latte. Take the more scenic route back to your dorm room. Whatever it may be, remind yourself to appreciate the ordinary.
Because, one day, we will look back on these seemingly insignificant routines and wish we could experience them just one more time. We spend so much time wishing we could skip ahead in college that we forget we’re living a chapter of our lives we will certainly miss.