How do you do it ALL?

Hello Bay Staters!

The past couple of months have been hectic, but on this fine Friday night, I wanted to take the time to answer a question I'm frequently asked: "How do you do it all?"

Well, I don't have a cat, but you get the idea.  I think we can all relate...

First, let me tell you that I certainly do not do it all.  Life is a balancing act regardless of your educational enrollment or your extracurricular responsibilities and there is definitely sacrifice involved.  This year, I needed to pour my energy into being a full-time student at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where I am required to meet the standards of both schools simultaneously (and yes, that means a lot of stressful exams).  I've also wanted to make the most of every moment of my year as Miss Massachusetts and spread the word to young people that they have value and can achieve any goal they hope to accomplish.  To accomplish all of this has been difficult, to say the least.

I have to admit that I'm a people pleaser and it pleases me to accept every appearance request and take on every leadership role I'm offered in school.  This year I've learned that although I wish I could teleport, I cannot and therefore, saying no has been one of my greatest challenges.  Having regrets is never fun. How have I managed?  I've found that I can download mp3 files for my classes at Harvard Medical School and on the way to and from almost all of my Miss Massachusetts appearances, I listen to them in my car.  Cell phone flashcards are also my best friend and I sometimes use them when walking down a long hallway or waiting for a friend to meet me for lunch.  Every moment is precious, but using all of that spare time can be taxing.  SO, to answer the question, I do not say yes to everything, even when I want to and I've found a few helpful coping strategies for when I wish I could do more OR on the flip side, feel I have too much on my plate.   I think most people can relate to this feeling, so here they are:

1)  Be grateful for everything.  Yes, it's cliche.  But if you stop to look back, it's pretty amazing what can be accomplished with hard work.  Reflection is very calming.

2)  Think: What is the worst thing that could happen?  There have been times this year when I wasn't sure if I could handle all of my course work and I thought to myself, the WORST thing that could happen would be to re-take an exam or to take a year off of school. Worst. Case. Scenario.  In the grand scheme of life, is that really so bad?  Probably not.  Is sanity important?  Absolutely.  I hope this can soothe the mind of anyone feeling stress in sports, work, school, etc. because in all honesty, it's really not that bad.

3)  Take time to be alone and unplug.  There have been times when I've not kept up with social media or even texted my family for a couple days (which is unusual for me), but sometimes taking time for myself has been important.  Taking a VERY long shower and taking advantage of the endless hot water in my dorm has been a life saver... relaxing to Pandora... staring mindlessly at funny photos online.  Anything to zone-out can be helpful to recharge and feel like the go-go-go lifestyle is being paused.  I can't feel guilty for this and I hope you won't either!

4) DO. NOT. EXPECT. PERFECTION.  Please repeat after me.  Being hard on myself is the worst mistake I make and anyone guilty of this will understand.  Being human means being imperfect by nature and it makes us all more fun, relatable, and interesting.  What good would it be if I couldn't tell embarrassing stories once in a while, right?  My advice to myself and others is to remember for everything you do wrong, you probably did one hundred things right.

When it's all said and done, I don't do it all but I try to be realistic.  I hope this reflection on the stress involved with juggling many responsibilities can be helpful for anyone feeling overwhelmed.  And I hope you remember, God never gives you more than you can handle.  You've got this.

Something's got to give, right?  

Enjoying the lack of snow,

Lauren