The part of the semester where school gets difficult has arrived. Midterms, projects, essays and homework dominate late nights and weekends.
“Oh no, I actually have to try now?”
Yes, unfortunately, you do. Or we pay the price.
Additionally, we have athletic seasons well under way (intramural, club, and Division 1), theatre productions, parents visiting and philanthropy events for fraternities and sororities.
This is the part where you sacrifice your sleep and mental health to do it all at once.
If you’re feeling overcommitted, this is your reminder to take a step back. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is always present in college, but your friends won’t dwell on it if you tell them that you need to go do some schoolwork or go to sleep early.
Speaking of sleep, that 45-minute nap between classes — the one that you took because you stopped functioning and were falling asleep in class anyway — isn’t really cutting it.
Keeping sleep schedules consistent, and going to sleep before midnight, is critical. More sleep at night, and less naps, is the best way to truly stay rested.
Get in a good routine before you’re so far gone that you’re either addicted to caffeine or sleeping though alarms.
More importantly — if you’re overwhelmed, take a breath. Skip an event. Read a book that you actually wanted to read. Pray. Think.
Then, you can go and attack the rest of the day.
It is important to remember that you are in college to learn and get a quality education, but also to remember that one grade will not make or break you.
I wish I took my own advice on this, rather than consuming about 32 ounces of coffee per day and spending my Sundays in Payson (once it finally opens). If you’re at that level, it’s likely that you’re in too deep.
Let’s make a conscious effort to change, together.
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Contact Karl Winter at karl.winter@pepperdine.edu
