At the beginning of the summer, I wrote a post called A Look Back: First Year. I spent a lot of time talking about what I did in my first year of university to help me get through the workload and all of the changes I was getting used too. Looking back on all of the things that helped me last year, I have to say that everything has drastically changed this year. If first year was a transition, second year has been an even bigger one.
For one, I am now living on my own. There’s no one to clean up after me, cook me dinner, or regulate my life. Although I do have roommates, this is the first time I’ve ever been fully responsible for myself. Learning how to cook, and making sure I’m staying healthy and eating on a budget has been a challenge that I have finally overcome. I’m definitely much happier making my own decisions! Life out of residence has never felt better.
This year, my focus has shifted to taking care of myself and slowing down. I was a little frantic over the summer because I was trying to do everything at once. I made too many commitments for myself and ended up neglecting the things that really meant something to me. Like spending time with my Aunt, or just hanging out at home with nothing to do. This year, I have tried to minimize my commitments to necessity, which means that I have much more time to relax, spend time with my roommates or do nothing.
Taking time to take care of yourself is so important at any stage in your life. I find that allowing myself an extra 10 minutes in the morning to drink my tea in peace, or even writing in a journal before I go to sleep really helps me slow down and prepare myself for the day (or sleep) ahead.
So today, your challenge is to take your time. Slow down a minute. Reflect on your day, your week, your year. Do something that makes you happy. Remind yourself that it is okay to take care of YOU.
How do you slow down?
