The semester’s only just begun and you’re already feeling overwhelmed. You have to read 40 pages by next week, write two papers, nail a job interview, and still find time to hang with your friends and find time for yourself. With so much to do, it’s starting to feel like every little thing on your plate is just another heaping helping of stress, even if it’s something you want to do. So what should you do now?
Make a list
Sometimes, just the act of making a list helps relieve some of the pressure of how much I’ve got going on in my life. Once you’ve got a list down on paper—or bullet journal, or Google Calendar—you can start to form a game plan of how to tackle them. I like to make a complete list of the stuff I need to do during the week, versus the stuff I want to do. Schedule the stuff that’s super important on your calendar first, and then spring in some me time and outings. Just remember that fun stuff can take emotional energy too, which leads me to…
Learn How to Say ‘No’
One of the most stressful weeks I had this summer was from me trying to cram time to see my friends in between three job interviews and packing to go on vacation. I underestimated the load of work I’d placed on myself and essentially tied myself in knots by trying to fit in time to see my friends on top of that. Know your limits, so that you can plan work and play accordingly. Some people do this by blocking out hours of their day to one thing or the other, while others will accomplish all of their work/school obligations on set days at a time. If you’re super busy, space out large social events like concerts to at most once a month. Little things, like hanging out in your dorm and watching a movie can happen more often—maybe once a week. The key to these is to remember to set boundaries for them—as much fun as it is to talk with my best friend until 3 a.m., we both know we’re miserable on less than eight hours of sleep and will lovingly kick each other out of our rooms when it’s time to go to bed. That being said, isolating yourself will only make you feel worse.
Reach out to your friends
Texting and leaving emojis in your group chat isn’t going to cut it. Oftentimes, I feel worse after texting someone about how anxious I’m feeling because they can often only respond with a sentence or two. Find a time that works for you both and confide in each other. Even if it’s only for fifteen minutes, talking to someone else can give you perspective on the scope of your problems and make them seem less pressing. Sometimes they can even help you solve them. Even if they can’t, just that act of confession is often incredibly stress-relieving.
Clean something
I am incredibly lazy, and as a result, my nightstand is covered in half-empty bottles and wrappers by the end of the week, not to mention all of the laundry that has accumulated on The Chair. I tend to forget about them or look at them and tell myself I’ll do it another day, but by pushing these off, I’ve essentially added more tasks to my list. I like to choose one small thing and get it accomplished within a set timeframe. For example, on Saturday morning I clean off my nightstand. It takes all of fifteen minutes, but crossing it off my list gives me a sense of accomplishment, and often gives me the motivation to be productive for the rest of my day.
Ask for Help
You know doubt hear this all the time, but it’s my most important word of advice having completed my undergraduate career with a whole book’s worth of mental health issues and physical disabilities. If you take anything from this list, it’s that whether the problem is large or small, ask for help. This doesn’t make you weak, or incompetent—if anything, it’s the smartest thing you could possibly do in your undergrad. Zoned out when your teacher mentioned the homework due next class? Email the teacher or ask another student on Webcourses. Can’t find parking and you’re going to be late to class? Use the UCF app and let another student know. Feeling angry and listless? Speak with a trusted member of your local clergy, make an appointment with a therapist at CAPS on campus, or send a text to a third party crisis line. Probably the dumbest thing I ever did as an undergrad was pretending that I was a superhuman who could do everything all on her own. We are strong and independent, but no accomplishment is ever completed without a little help.