I’m not sure when asking how school is going or what your plan to do afterward became the immediate silence filler for everyone having a conversation with a student.

Sufficient time for schoolwork, actual work, and sleep, with any sort of social life may only seem to exist in a 30-hour-a-day world, why would I want to talk about that?

Maybe you told yourself you’d do homework or something productive all day, but somehow, you’ve ended up here reading this column that I’m doing very late because I did not do homework all day as I told myself I would. That’s okay.

“How is school going?” is something I am asked every time I work.

“Busy” is how I always reply.

I’m not going to unload on them the amount of stress I’m under and how badly I don’t want to be there and tell them that the next time someone asks me whether it be a customer or a coworker, I am going to scream.

I’m a senior but I’ve always been a procrastinator, so I won’t call it senioritis. However, the countdown to commencement is ticking like a clock in the back of my mind, as I’m sure it is in many others.

I decided four years was fine with me and there was no need to graduate early. Therefore, the most amount of class credits I’ve taken at a time is 15. Now I am somehow stranded with 18 credits my senior year and a job that takes up all my weekends.

Whatever stage of college you’re in, if you’re overwhelmed, it’s understandable. Whether you’re a full-time student or one with a job, balancing multiple aspects of responsibility with a social life and a healthy mind is difficult.

Thankfully, I am a planner who likes to check off to-do lists. Writing a homework to-do list and planning out my weeks accordingly is the only thing that keeps me sane. If it doesn’t always go to plan, it’s okay, you can make up for it the next day.

The most important thing that I have found is that you must schedule time for yourself, and/or with friends. It’s not impossible. That may mean you have to do double the homework one day and the next but making that time makes all the difference.

“Protect your peace” used to be a joke between some of my old roommates. There is an extent to which protecting your peace can just turn into being selfish, but in moderation, seriously protect your peace. Plan a movie night in and talk to no one, make dinner plans with your friends, go listen to some music, and just take a break.

We are all in North Adams, whether far away from your home or this is your home, protecting your peace or creating any serotonin in freezing temperatures might not be your ideal but it’s doable. Take some time and make your own fun.