Balancing Act

My Google calendar looks like a pack of tropical Skittles poured out onto the floor. Everything is multi-colored and labeled to the nines so I can keep myself organized. I love having this schedule. I love doing this work. I love helping others and allowing others to enjoy what they love. But I have to admit, it definitely can be a heavy weight on my mind sometimes.

Earlier this semester, I was feeling extremely overwhelmed, like my mind could not catch up to the workload at hand. I was beginning my senior year after being home on Zoom for over a year. I had forgotten how busy being at in-person school was after all this time. I began to have trouble focusing and sleeping because I was doing so much. I was overbooking to the point where it wasn’t humanly possible to complete it all.

I am so grateful for every experience I have as a student, student worker, and leader, but I knew I needed to make sure I was taking care of myself as well. After playing phone tag with Counseling Services due to my busy schedule, I finally was able to book an appointment with the counselor I have been seeing since freshman year. It felt so natural and safe to begin counseling again, but I was scared that I would have to give up my multi-colored calendar. 

Through my time in counseling, I have learned how to balance everything in a way that allows me to be productive while also taking care of myself. I am able to find time to relax when I come home from school and make myself dinner before a night of rehearsals. I am able to find time to spend with myself while using the love I have for my calendar by denoting specific free time on my to do list. I am able to find the time that I deserve to spend with myself while also checking off all of the tasks on my calendar.