If you had spoken to me on Tuesday morning, I'd have painted the day as terrible—late for class, tea spill, and a general sleep-deprived mess. Yet, by Tuesday evening, I'd tell you that judging a day as good or bad should happen only at its end. The day's conclusion had a surprisingly nice touch.
College life has thrown its fair share of bad days my way, derailing my mood completely. It's disheartening to reach the day's end and find it so stressful that I struggle to see any positives. Seeing everyone else caught up in the college hustle, I think, “Well, this is just the way college life is.” To an extent, that's true. The past few weeks have been a frenzy of assignments, leaving little time for anything else.
A barrage of assignments and consecutive bad days feels like a triple hit of despair. Late nights finishing schoolwork and early mornings starting assignments make me feel cranky and clumsy—probably because of insufficient sleep. After what happened on Tuesday, I strongly feel the need to reassess my academic and personal life, aiming for a better balance and a more positive perspective when things go awry.
The first step toward improving my days is preparing the day before. Time management is key, something I've been working on since joining my Senior Seminar class, where we focus on job search skills. For me, this involves allocating time for assignments, naps, studying, and the like. It might also mean laying out my outfit before bed to avoid indecision and lateness to class. Additionally, scheduling lunch at a less stressful time helps me stay mentally present.
Preparation, in essence, is about making uncertainties and mishaps less likely. The second step is a mindset shift. When I spilled my drink in class on Tuesday, I initially deemed it the worst day ever. The lack of sleep and concentration during the lecture, combined with the embarrassing spill, contributed to a rough start.
However, as the day progressed, things took a turn for the better. A nap and time with friends lifted my spirits, making the latter part of the day surprisingly decent. Moving forward, I aim not to label an entire day as bad due to one unfortunate event. Evaluating a day should happen at its close. Before bed, I reflect on the positive aspects, focusing on laughter with friends rather than the spilled drink. This practice instills hope that there's always something to be happy about, even on days when things go wrong.