College is a place unlike any other. You are introduced to the ways of being an adult: living on your own, cooking and fending for yourself. Now add a job in the journalism industry on top of that. Your life just becomes one big hot mess.
Your schedule is packed every day at least from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Then you get to go home and worry about how to prepare for the next day. While I am the type of person that likes to stay busy, these past couple semesters I have been struggling to find time for myself. Being both a student and reporter is VERY tiring. My days are constantly filled with some sort of work and the time I spent on everything else but myself never seems to end.
This semester I have found that finding "me" time is something that I feel is extremely important, no matter who you are. If you are constantly on the go, your body and mind becomes tired extremely fast. This not only impacts your daily performance but it also affects the individuals around you. Relationships start to strain, friendships dissipate and your personal goals start to fizzle out. You become frustrated at the situation you are in as well as yourself for allowing you to get to that point.
Through the past couple of months, I have learned there are five steps I can take in order to gain a little bit of "me" time in my daily routine. I don't always follow these solutions, but that's okay. Learning to balance life, school, work and your mental health and wellbeing is a continuous juggling act that I don't think anyone will perfect.
Below are the five steps I have learned to achieve "me" time.
Solutions:
1) Set a reminder on your phone for every couple hours to take a five minute break. This will allow you to physically force yourself to stop what you are doing and focus on yourself just for a couple moments.
2) Dedicate a day out of the week where you will spend an hour or two doing nothing. Write it in your planner. Add it to your e-calendar. Set aside that time to be where ever you want doing whatever you want. Eat, watch TV, sleep, read a book, go for a walk. Do whatever allows you to let your mind escape. Don't focus on what needs to get done, focus on the current moment. *If you can, try doing this at least once a day if your schedule permits.
3) Take naps. Yes, I know this may sound a little childish but studies have proven a quick 30 minute nap can completely rejuvenate your mind and body.
4) Ask friends, family members or significant others for help. By reaching out to these people, hopefully they will be able to notice times in which you could use a quick break and become that second reminder to step back. If you have been doing homework for the past five hours, a friend could notice it's time you walk away for a few moments. Go grab coffee really quick or go for a walk. Having someone physically pull you away from your work could prove to be really beneficial.
5) Finally, learn when to say no. It can be hard to back away from commitments but when it comes to your personal health and wellbeing it is necessary to take a step back. Providing yourself with a full day or even a couple hours to focus on you will give you a chance to reevaluate the list of items you need to get done. Look over your schedule. Look at your list of assignments. Figure out when would be the best time to get these items done while also working in time for yourself. Have you picked up too many commitments? Are there things you've voluntarily said yes to that don't necessarily "add" to your life? Weigh out the pros and cons to see if you could miss a day of work or school to focus on yourself. And I mean really weigh them out. A day off and saying no to commitments for one day can help, I promise.
While these aren't the only steps one can take to achieve time dedicated to oneself, it's a step in the right direction. I encourage you to figure out what works best for you and how you are able to achieve down time for yourself during your normal, busy schedule. I hope this helps but remember it's a learning process. And while work and school is important, you are important too.
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