2008 Woodie Awards
Confessions of a college student
Kelleen Nolan
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: Opinion
I confess that I don't know how to relax anymore. I know it's kind of cruel to be talking about relaxing this close to finals, but that's kind of the point. Isn't there always something coming up, something that prevents us from slowing down and taking some "me-time?"
I mentioned this theory to a friend of mine, and he said, "Well, I know how to relax. When everything gets to be too much, I go to a party." But that's not the same. Going to a party doesn't really constitute "relaxing". He's out with friends, adrenaline is pumping (so you've got a natural high going) and he's drinking (bringing him down). So overall, not only is he NOT relaxing, but he's sending his body all sorts of signals that it doesn't know how to interpret. That is not relaxing.
And do you ever find yourself alone? I don't, at least not often. Sure, when I go to the library to study and put my headphones on, that's a type of alone, but there are still countless people around me. Then I go home, but since I live in the dorms, I go back to my shared small space, and more often than not, my roommate is there. So then if I need space, I have to go to my boyfriend's house, but that isn't my space. And I know a lot of you are in a similar boat. Sometimes, I just need to be by myself, to re-center, to remember who I am as an individual. It's hard to do that when you are surrounded by people all the time.
Even though finals are looming, and you have tons of studying to do, go ahead and take a nap. Ask your roommate if he/she can go out for a couple hours so you can do what it is you want to do for a while without having to consider how you are inconveniencing them. Taking this you-time will allow you the piece of mind to plow through your exams, and it just may be a little easier. And don't work too hard in the summer. You need you-time just as much then.
I mentioned this theory to a friend of mine, and he said, "Well, I know how to relax. When everything gets to be too much, I go to a party." But that's not the same. Going to a party doesn't really constitute "relaxing". He's out with friends, adrenaline is pumping (so you've got a natural high going) and he's drinking (bringing him down). So overall, not only is he NOT relaxing, but he's sending his body all sorts of signals that it doesn't know how to interpret. That is not relaxing.
And do you ever find yourself alone? I don't, at least not often. Sure, when I go to the library to study and put my headphones on, that's a type of alone, but there are still countless people around me. Then I go home, but since I live in the dorms, I go back to my shared small space, and more often than not, my roommate is there. So then if I need space, I have to go to my boyfriend's house, but that isn't my space. And I know a lot of you are in a similar boat. Sometimes, I just need to be by myself, to re-center, to remember who I am as an individual. It's hard to do that when you are surrounded by people all the time.
Even though finals are looming, and you have tons of studying to do, go ahead and take a nap. Ask your roommate if he/she can go out for a couple hours so you can do what it is you want to do for a while without having to consider how you are inconveniencing them. Taking this you-time will allow you the piece of mind to plow through your exams, and it just may be a little easier. And don't work too hard in the summer. You need you-time just as much then.
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