I was talking to a friend this weekend when we started listing everything we were stressed about. Rising prices of pretty much everything, upcoming midterms, Thanksgiving break feeling impossibly far away, the unpredictability of the people in our lives, the daunting task of navigating the world of jobs, and well, the overall state of the world. Needless to say, we were stressed.
As we went back and forth about everything going on in our lives, it became increasingly clear just how much there was to keep track of. Between academic responsibilities, personal lives, and the uncertainty of what comes next, it sometimes feels like everyone is trying to manage a million open tabs in their heads. And the tabs keep changing.
So, naturally, I asked my friend how she managed it all, since she seemed to have even more on her plate than I did.
Her answer surprised me.
She told me she was just trying to get by.
For some reason, I found that answer refreshing. She wasn’t offering a new routine, a productivity hack, or another way to squeeze more into the day. She was simply acknowledging that there was a lot going on, and maybe we didn’t need to have everything figured out right now.
Usually, when we talk about being overwhelmed, someone offers a solution: better time management, a healthier routine, more sleep, or some other method for making life feel manageable. But her answer didn’t offer a solution. And somehow, that made it more comforting.
Maybe part of what made her answer so refreshing was that she wasn’t trying to force a difficult week into something positive. She was simply allowing it to be difficult.
Somewhere along the way, it seems that being happy and fulfilled all the time became another responsibility we’re expected to keep up with. Another thing for the to-do list.
It’s not difficult to see where that expectation comes from. Between social media posts encouraging us to make the most of every day and constant reminders to prioritize our well-being, happiness can start to feel like something we’re supposed to achieve. We’re encouraged to find joy in the little things, romanticize our routines, and make every moment count.
Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of that, and it’s important to try and incorporate joy into our lives. But when we set the expectation on even ordinary routines to be meaningful and exciting, it’s easy to start wondering whether we’re doing something wrong when they don’t.
Sometimes, life is just busy and hectic. Sometimes, we’re tired. Sometimes, we have a lot going on, and getting through the week is enough.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t make time for the things that bring us joy or take care of our well-being. Happiness is still something worth pursuing, and prolonged stress or unhappiness shouldn’t simply be ignored. Accepting that a few days won’t go our way is better than putting pressure on ourselves to make every day a good one.
So, by all means, make sure the things you do make you happy. But sometimes a Tuesday is just an ordinary Tuesday, and maybe accepting that is enough to help check off that box.
