For some reason, this semester was more difficult than my last semester, and even with the good parts of the semester, it still seemed pretty rough to me. That’s saying something considering last semester was my first semester. This was maybe because I’ve been trying to get seven hours of sleep a night while also packing any homework due the next day in the three to four hours. I have also been dragging my butt to the gym every Tuesday and Thursday. So, I’ve been failing on the Thursdays, but the Tuesdays since I’ve come to figure out this plan have at least been regular enough to feel I’ve gotten some sort of gym routine down.

I have been doing one or two new things in the past few weeks to keep myself from going crazy with stress, all while trying to kick into enough motivation to cram a whole paper into a week, etc. It was hard enough to start considering; I’m always thinking of the next thing I have to do, what I have due in a week, or how I’m going to prioritize that list into some semblance of order. But, once I decided to tell myself to shut up and try it, it was easier. The trick in this is to do it, realize you’re doing it, and then forget what you’re doing and let the situation flow its natural course from that point on.

What’s it? Living in the moment.

With many of you graduating, you’re probably doing exactly what I do every day, with so much time in your hands, it feels in some cases as though you’ve already lived out the entire week of which you’ve only been planning for a few minutes. Right? Sure.

Living in the moment isn’t just about turning yourself into someone who forgets your everyday obligations and responsibilities. It’s about realizing that you do have things to do, that you will continue to do them, but for now you’re going to enjoy this party, concert, or rare outing with your friends. That’s what people are forgetting to say when they simply keep saying, “Live in the moment.”

Of course, it’s always easier said than done, but if you make this enough of a habit it will start becoming more and more natural. Well, at least if you’re like me and you tend to try and relax while continuing to think of what all you’ve got to do that week remaining.

The How-To

1. Stop comparing yourself to others. This is so much of what used to be so many of my problems back in the day. But then I started only comparing myself to myself. If I didn’t like how I was one day, I’d change that in the next and make sure that wasn’t the me from then on.

2. Realize not every situation is yours to control. Life is always going to be hard. There’s no way around that unless you live in a cabin in the middle of the woods—yes, with no Wi-Fi. Because, come on, even that has its own drama, right? Yes, some have it harder than others, but that has nothing to do with magic or fate or destiny. That’s just life being life. The universe is a cruel being. Just fight it back by showing it you got this!

3. Forget everything you’re feeling at the moment if it has nothing to do with that moment. It’s hard to do, but it’s almost magic when it happens. I’m not saying you aren’t entitled to whatever you feel, you are. But you can also control how you feel even when you can’t control the situation.