By Abby Knox, Opinions and Editorials Editor

For the first time this semester, during the last two snow days we have had,  I have been able to breathe. 

Let me explain. College is demanding, and if you are anything like me you probably have a lot more on your plate than just classes. Between work, going to class, the lovely student newspaper, keeping the grades up and hanging out with friends… college is a lot. 

Notice how in my list of things on my plate I did not mention anything about alone time or self-care. 

Self-care is the first thing to get lost in the cracks of this highly demanding life of a college student. That being said, in these last two days where the snow fell heavily and the campus went quiet, I was able to take care of myself. I was able to slow down. 

Self-care looks different for each person. Although, recently for me, it has looked like steadily getting ahead on this week’s work, taking long showers, staying in my bed a little bit longer than usual and watching some good movies. 

I know sometimes as a college student the work just continues to pile up. It seems like no matter what you do or how long you spend working, the to-do list never gets any shorter. However, it comes to a point where we have to close the Canvas app and take care of ourselves. 

We have to prioritize our mental health. Unfortunately, we are not robots, we are only human. We do not run on fumes, unless you count caffeine.

Take care of yourself. Not just when your schedule allows, like these recent snow days, but every day. If you do not, you will burnout more quickly and become utterly exhausted, a type of exhaustion that no Celsius nor Starbucks can fix. 

In these last few days, I have looked out my window and felt grateful for this break and the chance to relax. I am grateful for the fresh fallen snow as it glistens in the sunlight and the quiet that the snow brought about. It gives everyone the opportunity to just pause and reflect.

We get so caught up in the constant deadlines, meetings and parties, that we forget to just be. Just slow down and breathe. Life moves fast, and sometimes we forget to be grateful for the little things: the fresh sheets on our bed, sledding down the hill with our best friends and fresh coffee in the morning. 

If you did not get to pause or just breathe during these snow days, I encourage you to take a break, to move slowly. Take the long way home. Reflect upon three small things you are grateful for today. Call up a friend from back home. Make a new playlist. Regardless of what a break may look like for you, I hope you pause, take a deep breath and move slowly.