a good dosage of reality.

People of the world. Hello, hello, hello!

We are reunited once again on this amazing thing we call the internet, don't you just love it? How are you all? Doing well? Feeling fabulous? Loving life? Good! If you ask me, however, the beginning of a new year never fails to bring around some much awaited stress. I always describe and think about this in my mind as a sort of cloud that you can almost see in the distance towards the end of December and as soon as January hits…BOOM! There it is to wake you up in the morning. Back to life, back to reality, right? 

Since i've been back in Stockholm i've been snowed under (there is snow here if anyone's also interested) with what seems like a never ending pile of laundry, one of the besties visiting from home, countless lectures to attend as well as too many articles, books and journals to read for uni and well, generally, just a million and one things to do that lets be honest, was not going to get done by itself. 

In my opinion, January is always one of those weird months - it goes terrifyingly quickly but at the same time seems never ending. Know the feeling? I'm sure you do. January always seems to bring with it a good dosage of reality and if you live in Sweden, you also have the joy of experiencing daily weather that is cold enough to make your toes feel like they're about to snap off…even with two pairs of woollen socks on! While i'm on the topic of reality, it's probably a good point to mention that reality may just be the topic that's going to be written about this afternoon my darlings! Oh, by the way, when I say may just be, that means it is. Just thought i'd clear that up. Go figure.

Now obviously reality is a huge topic, so I felt it was important to at least start by narrowing it down. In order to do so, I thought to myself - what is one of the biggest aspects in my life to which there is a sad reality but I also love it? The answer ladies and gents? University. 

University is one of the biggest commitments one can make in their life, and in my opinion, is also extremely over-looked in terms of how stressful and challenging this chapter in your life can be. As much as i'm having the best years of my life to date being at university, there are also times when I question my sanity and why I decided to take on such a huge burden of stress. 

Oh and for the record, those of you are thinking to yourselves  "oh, but being on exchange is an easier year"…THIS IS LIES I TELL YOU, LIES! 

One thing that really annoys me is when people say "oh yeah, you know like, I feel I really need to go to uni these days." I'm sorry, but no. This is, to be quite frank, bullshit. Don't follow what everyone else is doing, do what is the RIGHT and BEST option for YOU. There's no doubt that university is a serious commitment and as much as we all like to think of student life as endless partying, waking up whenever we want and submitting the odd essay and assignment every now and again, this is unfortunately, FAR from being the case. 

When I think back to the start of my first year *que Freshers' week 2012 flashbacks*, the thought of four years studying a Batchelor's degree could not have seemed better. Life was truly sweet. Parties every night, far too much alcohol, hilarious moments that were simply too priceless to value and god knows what else. However, come mid October when the work load was piling up and the 24/7 party period went from all to nothing (literally, so depressing) and I had an essay to write in which I had done no reading for and barely understood the question, reality hit me straight in the face! It wasn't great. 

As I sit here at my desk doing anything to avoid actually facing the amount of work I already have to do for my new modules this semester (I know right? Such a good student!), it's safe to say this is definitely a case of good old reality kicking in once again. LOVES IT! Like it or not my cherubs, uni is hard work. You can put off the reading, essays, note taking and assignments for as long as you want but at the end of the day, that all-important deadline will be still be looming in the all-too near future (just the same as it was last week, and the week before that…and oh wait, the week before that one too). I know, it sucks. My point? If you're not prepared to work and keep up with the pace then UNIVERSITY IS NOT FOR YOU. 

Go out and have a good time, get wasted, make an embarrassment of yourself, spend all your student loan on clothes and leave yourself with no money for the rest of the month (at least you'll look good, right?…I mean who really needs food?!) but PLEASE, do not underestimate the amount of work that lies ahead of you. A university career should not be taken on lightly! University is meant to be hard work.

A balance of 'work hard, play hard' at university is truly essential which i'm sure any current student would agree with. We all have times where we get this balance a tad wrong and do too much of the one thing (in my case, it's unfortunately the play hard) but there comes a point where you need to remind yourself that working hard is also important. Word. 

On the topic of hard work, deadlines to meet and a never-ending reading list in front of me that makes me want to vomit, I should probably get cracking on some of this myself…nothing like practice what you preach right? 

I will leave you all with some wise words from this old chap.

"It is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane." - Philip K. Dick

As always cyber world, it has been a pleasure. 

I'm off to go insane - don't worry, i'll be fine…I hope. 

Until next time. 

L xo