It’s the time of year that we all dread and one that we always lament about: the first wave of presentations, exams and papers has arrived and students are struggling. We aren’t here to scold you if you haven’t been taking care of your basic health while studying because we understand that it’s hard. However, that doesn’t mean putting yourself first isn’t important. Therefore, while this editorial isn’t detailing the aspects of your health you should focus on, it is here to serve as a reminder that life exists beyond school. So, perhaps you should think about taking a break every once in a while. 

When assignment after assignment and obligation after obligation start piling up, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything. We are all guilty of tunnel vision as we try to stay focused in order to achieve our goals and aspirations. In fact, it is commendable that we as a student body are so goal-oriented and want to see our dreams come true. We’re all working incredibly hard to become the most successful and passionate versions of ourselves. However, that can come at a cost—not just to ourselves, but also to those around us. 

It’s easy to stop taking care of ourselves when responsibilities pile up. However, when grocery shopping or exercising gets put on the back burner, it is still important to have simple tasks to look forward to in order to break up the monotony of stressful tasks. Whether that involves taking the RTA off campus to study, watching birds for five minutes, listening to an audiobook on the way to class, sitting down and eating dinner at a favorite restaurant or buying your favorite overpriced coffee drink, you can do more for yourself than you know. Sure, eating three meals a day and getting eight hours of sleep is great, but those basic living habits don’t always feel attainable. Doing something completely different and unrelated to your daily routine could be the small change of pace you need to keep moving forward. Beyond just that splice of abnormality, it’s also important not to ignore the people around you. Intentionally taking the time to call family members, having lunch with a friend you don’t see all the time or even spending an evening volunteering at a food bank reminds us that we’re all intertwined with each other. You aren’t alone in feeling overwhelmed; being around others and interacting with the community can not only give you a break, but can also be a way to build lasting relationships in your life. We all need support systems. 

It may be cliché to say that time flies by or that life is short, but both of those sentiments are true. Pouring our energy into only our academics and career will only give us a limited amount of happiness in the end. Making sure that we experience life with the help of others is essential in ultimately not burning ourselves out. Enjoy the time we have here. It won’t last long.