This week we have been asked to do research on other blogs like our own and see what we can learn from them. Not just what we learn from their stories but also what we learn from their writing styles. I have enjoyed this assignment and I have found that most of the blogs I enjoy reading have many of the things we are learning about, I love the personal anecdotes and the vulnerable stories heart felt and honest, I really like when they direct there riding to me the reader, like we are having a conversation When they blend their advice with personal story telling, parables are a great way to understand messages and bring them to life. I also enjoy when they end with a call to action or a reflection, what have we learned and now what are you going to do about it. I like it when the connect to me on a personal level in their topics as well.

Over my life I have come to find out that learning is not just done in the classroom. After being away from school for many years, coming back to college has been both exciting and overwhelming. Some days I feel on top of the world energized and motivated, while other days I feel like there are simply not enough hours in the day. Between all of the assignments, responsibilities at home, and trying to find time to just breathe, I have realized how easy it is to feel stretched thin.

 I found reading posts like How to Survive Academic Burnout: Tips From A Rising Senior Aim Youth Mental Health it reminded me that many students, no matter their age, experience burnout at some point.

What are the signs we might be doing too much? Do we even recognize it before it is too late? I have found that you might notice it in small ways at first. Sometimes it feels harder to concentrate, or motivation begins to fade. The blog Burnout in College: Seeing the Signs & How to Recover at Rowan Blog explains how burnout can build slowly when we try to do everything perfectly. This seemed like a wake up call for me, and a call to action to do better because I am a perfectionist. I’ve learned we often feel pressure to keep pushing forward, even when our minds are asking for rest.

Something I have learned over my life, but seem to always get the opportunity to practice again, because I have forgotten, balance does not mean everything is perfectly equal all the time. Sometimes balance simply means giving yourself permission to pause in reading from ISU Social media, Recognizing Mental Health and Student Burnout it helped me see how important it is to pay attention to our mental well-being, not just our grades. My girls who are also in school keep telling me, “mom, you don’t need a 4.0, C’s get degrees!” The even recognize that sometimes I need to give myself permission to pause and reflect about what is truly important in life.

Even though I am coming back to get that piece of paper that says “I DID IT!”, college is not just about earning a degree. It is also about learning how to grow, adapt, and care for ourselves along the way. Even when you are in your 40’s you can still grow and learn and find out new things about yourself. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, remember that slowing down does not mean giving up. Neither does taking a break, even if it’s for a few years… I think, the strongest step forward is allowing yourself a moment to breathe and begin again.