I don't know how actual adults do it. How do they juggle work, home life, and a social life? I have loads of laundry at home, piles of paperwork at work, and friends that I want to see. I haven't managed to figure out a way to balance it all. Just when I think that I have one aspect of my life handled, something else goes haywire. So I've started to look for ways to cope with the stresses of my life and here's what I've learned so far.

1. It is OK to ask for help. 

I HATE asking for help and honestly that is probably my biggest demise. I like showing the world that I am independent and can do things my self. However, we know that we are supposed to be able to rely on each other to make it through life. So I've started to ask for help with the things that I struggle with at both home and work. So much of my work life last year was me trying to do things by my self because I wanted to prove to my coworkers that just because I was a first year athletic trainer didn't mean that I wasn't capable of doing my job. Honestly, I became really burnt out by the time Spring sports rolled around, but that will change this year. I've already started asking for help with minor things that other people could help me do. 

2. Taking a break is good. 

But also don't take too long of a break. I love my house being spotless, and I love my work being done, but is that worth sacrificing my mental health to have it all done in one day? No! I used to do this in college with studying. If I got through with 10 questions I would take a 5 minute mental break, and I've started doing that with my barely adult life. I'll deep clean one room of my house and then take a 5 minute walk or phone break and start again. Or if I'm at work, I'll write 5 SOAP notes and then go to the front office to check my mailbox. 

3. Don't be so hard on yourself. 

If things don't get done in a certain way or you fail with getting everything done that you had planned, don't be hard on yourself. So much of my life is planning and staying on top of things, and I often fail miserably at that. I used (and still am) to be very hard on my self when I didn't do what I thought I was capable of. That goes for juggling life too. If I over sleep and don't go to the gym, or if I really wanted to get through 3 loads of laundry and cook enough dinner to be able to pack a lunch tomorrow and don't accomplish that, I just have to adapt and change and do what I can. We can't punish ourselves for being human. There isn't much more we can do than that. 

You're my Best Friend

Have you ever had a man hype you up, when you can't breathe out of your nose and you feel like your head is going to explode from the pressure? Ever had a man build the most random things for you to fulfill your wildest athletic training dreams? Ever had a man be your best friend and someone you can share anything with? If not, let me tell you how awesome it is.

A little over 8 months ago I met the man of my dreams and I wasn't even looking for him. I was at a time in my life where I wasn't looking for a relationship, I was looking for a distraction. I would aimlessly swipe left and right, never looking for anything serious. I was praying that the right man would either fall into my lap or walk across the threshold of my house. Hurrication hit and I had a lot more time on my hands. I stumbled upon Ryan and swiped right the night before his birthday. We hit it off over chat and I gave him my number. The next day he invited me to come to his birthday party. I went and in person we were 10,000 times better.

Over the next couple of days, we set up an official first date. He talked to my sister about my favorite food and restaurants. One the day of our first date, he came to the door, in a suit, with flowers, and met my mom. He walked across my threshold. He walked across my threshold. And the next 8 months have been blissful.

I am writing this to give every girl out there a kick in the pants, that it isn't your timing it is God's timing. I've written a lot about how I needed to trust God's timing, but it never seemed to click in my head. A door closed is another door opened. I never thought I would find someone who loved me or thought I was beautiful. I never thought that I would find someone who cared about me, but I did. Ryan is my best friend and one of my favorite people. I can be my full weird and quirky self. God has blessed me with the most amazing man. So I implore you to stay faithful in your prayers, because a no now will be a yes in the future!