Call Your Mom, For Yourself.

It’s easy to lose track of the little things when you’re in college. Sometimes a day will pass without remembering to stop for a full meal, or maybe you’ll forget a homework assignment or two. That’s why priorities are so important. 

Everyone has different priorities and I’m not going to tell you what you should put at the forefront of your to-do list, but if you’re going to survive your four years of undergrad, it’s incredibly powerful to recognize what’s important to you. 

As the months progress, you’ll add more and more things to your plate and somehow the days will seem to get shorter. It comes to a point where there simply isn’t enough time in the day to complete everything you want to – even if it’s something as little as watching The Bachelor or going out for tacos with your roommates. 

But the little things are important too. In fact, some of the most important tasks on your to-do list may be the ones that take the least amount of time. 

Yesterday was just one of those days. I had a fever and a horrible cough. I was laying on the ground without the motivation to get anything done – I couldn’t dance, couldn’t write, couldn’t fulfill any of my obligations or commitments. But one thing I could do was text my Mom. 

Almost immediately I was on the phone with her. She couldn’t do anything to bring my temperature down or stop my head from pounding, but somehow she made me feel better all at once. 

I used to be so good at calling my mom once a week to give her life updates and check-in. But recently, I’m lucky if I remember to send a text. It had been a few too many days since I talked to her last and it didn’t hit me until I actually needed something. Still, she was there for me at the ring of a bell, ready to do whatever she could. 

College survival tip #8: Never lose sight of your priorities, even when you lose sight of just about everything else. 

The truth is, my mom really doesn’t get enough credit. I go through crazy mood swings and am overly dramatic about the littlest life decisions, but she’s always willing to listen to me and be a shoulder to cry on, even when she’s hundreds of miles away. 

When they say “call your mom”, they mean it. You’ll remember for the first few weeks, maybe even the first few years. But if family’s a priority, this is a necessity to keep in mind. No matter how little free time you have, you always have time to talk to your parents. 

Not only will it make them smile, it will do wonders for your mental state. That little escape from the stress, the reminder of your roots, and the comfort of familiarity is worth so much more than minutes on a clock. 

It’s cheesy and cliche, but I wouldn’t be half the woman I am today without my mother’s support along the way. To my most loyal blog reader and forever backbone, thanks, Mom, I love you!