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Dear Michaela,

I’ve been having trouble balancing all of the things in my life. Between school, work, homework, friends, and family, I have little to no time for myself. It’s getting harder to stay upbeat and positive. Do you have any advice?

Sincerely, In need of me time

Dear Me Time,

The best way for myself to find me time is to set aside time that I do things for myself. Such as after class I treat myself to coffee (with whipped cream because I’m just that special).

Small chunks of time like this are easier to set aside, rather than large multiple hour chunks. So find something that you enjoy and set aside time between classes or before you go home after classes.

Also, you can allow enough time after you finish your homework that you lock yourself in your room (or another secluded area) and watch Netflix. Personally, I recommend  “Gilmore Girls.”  That way you feel like you have accomplished something and are rewarding yourself for it.

During this time, make no commitments other that spending time with the most important person… YOU! Friends and family are great support systems, yet everyone needs time to sink into some silence and do nothing.

The best way to find time is to not procrastinate (hard, I know). Once you take away the pressure of time limits and assignments, you free up your time and you waste less energy on something that could’ve been done already. I know this is easier said than done. I have a problem with this as well. But hey, if anyone can do it, it’s you!

As for staying upbeat and positive, the best advice that I can give you is that everything happens for a reason. Realize that a grade doesn’t define you. Be like a lotus flower that emerges every morning from the water and starts new. Start each morning with a blank slate.

If something doesn’t go as planned, take a deep breath and do the best with what you’ve got. Because let’s be honest, there’s nothing you can do to about it. And if there is something you can do to change it, then do it.

If there’s something you want, go for it. Not because someone else thinks it will be right for you, but because you want it.

Taking away some of the pressure of expectations from others, and deadlines for the next morning relieves a lot of the pressure and stress.

Michaela Handke/ Winonan