As a graduating senior, I had what seemed like too many things on my mind. Things such as:
completing my school work and studying for exams, keeping up with extracurricular school
activities, completing tasks in order to graduate, working at my current job to try to keep myself
financially stable, while applying for (what seems like hundreds) full-time jobs after college,
maintaining relationships around me, and trying to take care of myself all while trying to make
my last semester at K-State a memory. I easily became overwhelmed and frustrated with myself
and life in general. It took a lot of time for me to realize that it’s okay to feel like you do not have
everything under control. Sometimes, you just need to learn how to address the thoughts that
are burning you out.

I tried a lot of methods to take control of my life. What worked best for me was taking out an
hour of my week to write down all (and I mean every single detail) of my goals and tasks and
putting them down in a planner. It can get overwhelming looking at the whole week and
everything you need to get done, but if you only focus on one day of tasks at a time, it won’t
seem as much. You will be surprised how well you manage your tasks. If that doesn’t work, try
to take an hour break or a day to take care of yourself. Taking care of your tasks sooner rather
than later makes your “me time” seem rewarding. Some ideas of “me time” can include
arts/crafts, catching up on a book or show, going on a walk or working out, or treating yourself to
a treat.

It is also important to identify what is burning you out. Could it be school, work, relationships, or
personal feelings? Burn out can be identified by feeling exhausted or irritated, isolating yourself
from friends and family, realizing you are escaping to fantasy, or even causing illnesses. Stress
has proven to weaken the immune system which can make you susceptible to a cold or the flu.
Identifying your burn out can help you prioritize your tasks and how to take care of them. If all
else fails, do not be afraid to ask for help or confide in someone you trust about how you are
feeling. You can be surprised how many people want to listen. Resources on how to take care
of your mental health can be found through jobs, school, or even social media. Just remember
you are not alone in your fight for your mental health.