It’s that time of the year again. College nights out, coffee dates, and ending up with all but €10 to your name by the time Friday comes around. I mean, that’s what college life is all about, right? Being so busy during the week, that by the time you reach the weekend you need a full 48 hours to recover before starting all over again? After two weeks of attempting to manage the most unmanageable, unattainable ‘that girl’ lifestyle, where downtime is almost non-existent, I’ve realised there has to be another way to enjoy the hectic but exciting time that is college life, all the while finding time for myself in the midst of the chaos.
My own learning seemed to have gone out the window once I entered the college building again after a long, relaxing summer. A night out is all fun and games until one becomes four, and a lunch date becomes three more. Suddenly, you’re left with two hours in the day to complete assignments, shower, study and simply rest. Having looked back on my last few weeks, I now understand the importance of balance. It is of utmost importance to look after yourself in between the hustle and bustle of the college week. When you take time out for yourself and prioritise your own self-care and self-love, the memories to be made with those around you become more enjoyable and more meaningful, because you know that you have chosen to be there whilst still putting your own wants and needs ahead of anybody else’s.
With that being said, here is my advice to any of you struggling with the same ‘freshers burnout’ as myself:
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No:
Many people may find turning down an invitation extremely difficult, purely as a result of the possible awkwardness it may create, or the fear of seeming rude or unbothered by their friendly gesture. Trust me, I have said yes to plans that I did not wish to attend due to the above reasons too. However I’ve learnt the hard way that saying “no” doesn’t have to come across as impolite or disinterested. If you’ve had a long day and would much rather snuggle up and watch a cringe Netflix movie with your go-to comfort food, then just tell the person exactly that. If this person is your real friend, then they will understand. They would prefer for you to do what makes you happy. After all, those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind!
Plan Your Downtime In Advance
Once Monday comes around, and your brain has forgotten that your body was too tired to function by the end of last week, it’s pretty easy to forget about self-care and repeat the same hectic schedule all over again. In order to avoid this negative cycle, try to keep a note of when you will take time out for self-care. Whether this is in a journal, an online calendar, or on a notice board by your bedside. Imagine being able to tick off your self-care plans once completed. If you’re a teeny bit obsessed with organisation like me, then you’ll understand the satisfaction a simple tick can bring.
Sleep, Sleep, and more Sleep
In the age of TikTok scrolling and Instagram stalking, it has become all too easy to spend hours on end scrolling and scrolling into a deep abyss of overused trends, all the while landing a hundred posts deep in your ex’s Insta feed. Quite frankly, this is NOT where you want your headspace to be at 1:30am on a Tuesday night. Although social media becomes more enticing at nighttime – when we would rather watch a meaningless 30 second video of a stranger dancing than sit alone in our own thoughts – it is essential to get a full 8-10 hours sleep at night, for the sake of your own happiness and mental health. I hope you put that phone away tonight and give yourself the rest you deserve. It’ll do you the world of good when you have six hours of lectures tomorrow with nothing but coffee to keep you on your toes.
I guess it wouldn’t be very fitting to sign off with ‘new year, new me’, but I guess ‘new week, new me’ works too, don’t you think?