YouAlberta
I just wanted to start by telling you all that you are doing great. I say this with so much sincerity. There is a common misconception that life is meant to be "figured out" when in actual fact most of us haven’t got even the slightest idea what’s going on. In trying to “keep up” with everyone in the fall semester I found that I was putting unnecessary pressure on myself and that led to complete chaos! Panicking became normal for me and learning to get around that changed everything for me. The amazing thing about all of this is that by making some small changes to how you go about your day big and amazing results are possible, and I want to share the ones that helped me the most with you all.
Incorporate daily habits and routines for self-care
Amidst all the chaos that school can bring, having a set number of things you do daily FOR YOURSELF can eliminate a lot of uncertainty in your life. I started opening my blinds for sunlight every day, going on short and relaxing walks just to clear my mind and making sure I do my skincare routine at least once a day! Whatever you choose, make it something that you do routinely and make it 100% about yourself. This means you aren’t allowed to think about school or work while doing these. This is your time to prove to yourself that you matter and it helps clear your mind and reset before you have to hit the books. You can click on this video for a little inspiration on which daily habits you want to take up.
Break up tasks
Spreading out small chunks of work feels less tedious than trying to do things all at once. When handed a massive project or task I tend to go into an automatic panic mode causing me to push that task to the side. This semester has been different in that I want to immediately start the more difficult tasks and give my brain time to really think about them. I found that doing assignments over a number of days at a steady pace alleviated a lot of pressure and gave me time to reset. The key point is that when you step away from your work momentarily you can gain a new perspective–especially when presented with something that’s difficult to figure out. Your brain is a powerful tool but overworking it can actually cause it to not perform to the best of its ability. If you feel you are not making valuable progress with something, leave it alone and come back to it later with a clear head.
Set realistic goals and timelines
Excessively high standards can lead to a lot of unnecessary pressure in some cases. I found myself struggling to sleep or relax because I felt I didn’t deserve it on some days. This made me feel sluggish and extremely exhausted the next day. I eventually realized that accepting the fact that I am human could make a massive difference! Amidst all that ambition I started to include more accommodating and realistic goals and factoring in things such as procrastination into my timeline. Instead of getting frustrated with myself for not completing everything I said I was going to do, I started to push the perfectionism aside and rearrange my schedule in order to fit in whatever it is I didn’t manage to finish. Your mental well-being has to come first so always be kind to yourself. Remove the self-deprecating language and replace that with a “come what may" attitude. If you’ve done your best you should be proud of yourself. Yes, it is easier said than done, but one important thing I have learned in my life is failure is inevitable. It’s a surprisingly normal part of our lives and hence why it’s best to accept it and try again rather than let it ruin us.
You are not alone
Read that again! You really are not alone. I used to think I was the only one struggling with school and life in general. This led to many feelings such as imposter syndrome where I genuinely believed I was too unqualified to even be given the chance to attend the University of Alberta. Speaking to people I trust about my feelings made me realize that it may look like everyone knows what’s going on but we’re all just doing our best at the end of the day. You are worthy and you can do this. Being honest with yourself and asking for help when you don’t feel like you’re at your best is something to be proud of. There is a whole community Mental Health Supports at the U of A to help you without judgement. I got some pretty great advice about deep breathing exercises and the importance of self-care, and now when I feel like I’m not on track I take some time to actually think about all the good things I have done so far in the semester. Always keep in mind that being honest to yourself is always best. You matter! It’s okay to not have it all figured out.
You're doing amazing, sweetie
You are worthy and you are doing your best. It’s okay to review and change your goals or your new year’s resolutions for the better. Your best is all that is needed and with a little understanding of you on your part you could possibly take giant leaps into being a better version of yourself. You are doing great! Celebrate every little win or step in the right direction because any form of progress deserves a good pat on the back.
About Tendai
Tendai is in her third year of a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering.