[Cassie]

Hi Bollenbach. I was just severely overwhelmed this past week with two papers due, and a 15 minute oral presentation thrown on me at the last minute. I was pulling 12-15 hour days (working part-time as well) and became sooo stressed. As a result, I'm now really sick. Let me tell you, the feeling of being overwhelmed and stress that comes with it is just not worth it.

I am going to take a lighter class load next semester and make it a priority to spend more leisurely time for myself in contemplation. It's easy to get swept away in the crazy bustle of school life, but ultimately I want to spend time on things which are also important for me. I enjoy volunteering in my free time and studying philosophy, for example, and everything else was detracting from that.

You need to find your own balance and then budget your time accordingly. It helps to lay out a specific schedule when you know an assignment is looming ahead. I prefer to work on heftier projects a little bit at a time instead of doing it all in one extensive haul. It's too easy for me to get overwhelmed, which I unfortunately found out this past week.

The stress isn't worth your health. Focus on relaxation/meditation techniques and consciously make an effort to prioritize your assignments in a way which is not overwhelming for you right now. Then take a nibble off the load at a time. Try not to look too far ahead, just focus on what's at hand until it's complete and then move onto the next when you're physically and spiritually ready to.