I have a habit of skipping steps. I get excited about a project, and suddenly I go from step one to step five — it’s not healthy. But why do I do it? Well, it’s a combination of reasons. First, my thought process works faster than my conscience — it’s as if my brain were on autopilot. I want to finish my project, and to me, it doesn’t matter how I get it done. It’s kind of toxic, not gonna lie. 

To put it in perspective, you’re a full-time college student, working a part-time job and trying to maintain your social life — all at the same time. And sometimes, it feels like you need to skip some steps in order to maintain your overall performance. 

But skipping steps also puts you in this cycle of burnout, and I’m sure most of you had your fair share of it. In 2021, right before school started, I got burnt out. It got to the point where turning in a simple discussion post drained my energy supply for the day. The only thing I could get excited about was my family lunch Sundays, where I could talk about my thoughts and emotions. It’s there, at the table with my uncle and cousins, that I got the best advice: 

Take it one step at a time. 

As obvious as this sounds, the point is not about getting as much done as you can in the littlest amount of time. It’s about focusing on one task, getting through it, and then moving on to the next. For those whose mind is like mine, it’s about breaking the project down into smaller, more manageable tasks. And after each step, remember to take a moment to appreciate what you’ve done so far. 

You’re doing great, and I’m so proud of you. 

It’s so important to completely process each event you’ve endured. I’m continuing to learn this lesson every day, and to be honest; it’s hard to follow. However, I know by taking one step at a time, I’m doing myself a favor in the long run.

To my fellow Cyclones, take it one step at a time — your future self will thank you later.