Since September I have been going constantly. Monday thru Thursday I have 12 to 14 hour days and that’s not counting the time spent on doing homework and searching for jobs for the New Year.

I’m going to be honest, I’ve come close to breaking down and losing it a few times. My internship is 15 hours a week. I work my job 20 hours a week. I go to class 10 hours a week. While running club meetings at Berklee, I am currently getting things together for the submission process for the show that we put on. If you’re doing the math, that’s a lot of hours and not a whole lot of free time. Oh free time, I miss you.

Anyway, I know that so many people are in the exact same boat as me. We’re humans and we aim to please. Mostly we are all trying to please ourselves, and we are all our worst critics. This semester has forced me to come to a conclusion. I realized that if I don’t take a few moments every day for me, I will go crazy. I won’t put my fullest effort into my work because I’ll be so tired and frustrated that I won’t know what to do with myself.

I recently started taking yoga classes and it has helped me so much! If anyone is super stressed or has trouble sleeping, yoga can definitely help you. I’ve learned a couple of extremely relaxing breaths help me fall asleep at night when my brain just won’t shut off. An easy one to try: take really slow, deep breaths and count down from ten to one. Spend one inhale and one exhale on each number. This will cause you to concentrate on just counting and help your mind shut off. It works wonders! I have spent less time tossing and turning and more time actually sleeping at night.

In a previous entry, I mentioned how I’m finding balance with tasks within my hectic schedule. I also recommend getting a hobby. Playing your instrument doesn’t count. I like to crochet and knit. I spend about a half hour every day doing it. It’s something that I enjoy and I do just for me. It’s my time to do something I want to do instead of have to do.

I know that there are many Berklee students, especially interns, who experience the same overwhelming stress. I hope you take this entry to heart and try some of these suggestions. Remember, you can be your biggest critic, but it’s important to take time for YOU. Find balance.

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Arielle Schwalm is a Music Business / Management major interning in Boston for the Fall 2010 semester.
Read more by Arielle:

Getting The Most Bang for Your Berklee Buck – Lynda.com

Justine
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