Written by Global Ambassador, Rosa Moreleon, Master of International Business student, Boston Campus, Class of 2017

Have you ever felt compelled to participate in as many activities as you can to boost that resume up? Or to network and connect with as many C-level managers as possible? Are you pressured to come up with the best start-up idea?

Any of these 9gag pictures resonate with you?

As a business grad student, we’re expected to work on our team projects and assignments, and somehow, juggle our personal life. For some of us at Hult, it’s our first time living alone while others work part-time or/and have a family to maintain. To put it simply, there is a lot of personal stuff going on.

If these situations sound familiar to you, DON’T SWEAT IT! You are NOT alone, and there are resources at your disposal to make it easier.

I wish someone had told me what I am going to tell you years ago. Stress is something serious and real.

It can truly affect your life when you don’t know how to deal with it or even accept it. When you are too overwhelmed, it affects your ability to do well even in things that have been familiar to you. And that can add more stress—the fact that you know can do it, but you’re just not able to get there. It’s a frustrating cycle.

So how do you break it? ACCEPT IT. Understand that you’re struggling and that you’re stressed. Finally, give yourself a break.

We are not invincible. We need to exercise, eat healthy, rest and sleep. We also need to keep a balanced life. It may seem ridiculous, but it is not all work and no play. And the play doesn’t only mean partying or going crazy, it’s about doing things that give your mind a break, clears your head and makes you smile. It’s all about finding the right balance.

Once I learned about how real stress can be, I learned how to manage it. For instance, I am into photography and to be honest, with grad school, I don’t seem to find the time. And I am guessing that many of us use ‘time’ as an excuse. However, as a Hult Global Ambassador, I share on social media and blogs what is going on at our Boston campus. A couple of weeks ago, all of the Hult Campuses held the annual Global Speaker Series event, called Day of Disruption. I had to cover it, but I did it my own way. I saw an opportunity to mix work and play. It gave me the opportunity to take tons of pictures (from all angles) of students and friends in action. The best part after that? There was a workshop hosted by OpenIDEO, and they asked me if I could cover it also. This gave me the opportunity to connect with young professionals that came to the workshop. I also met and kept in touch with the Hult professor who is running the OpenIDEO Chapter in Boston, Mike Grandinetti.

That’s how I figured out how to deal with my stress: mix my work and hobbies and keep a balance to keep me from going insane. I also learned that I have to take a step back and say – I need a break from all this stress, it is doing me no good. That we all need a moment to clear our heads, figure out what’s wrong and how we can make it work.

We all should love and be excited about what we are doing at our grad school. So don’t let the small stuff get in the way.

Need a little more inspiration? Check out these three cheap books that help with stress, procrastination, fears and anxiety. All the things that stop us reaching our full potential. My personal favorite is Richard Carlson’s.

• “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff … and it’s all small stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life”, by Richard Carlson.

• “Eat that Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time”, by Brian Tracy.

• “John C. Maxwell: Make Today Count: The Secret to Your Success is Determined by Your Daily Agenda”, by John C. Maxwell.

ENJOY!

If you would like to find out more about Hult’s global business programs, download a brochure here.

Rosa Moreleon is a Mexican adventure junkie with a thirst to learn about anything and everything, especially when it comes to history and art. She’s currently pursuing the Master of International Business at Hult and holds two Bachelor’s degrees from UT Austin in International Relations and Economics. She is passionate about market research and hopes to make a difference wherever she goes.

Kickstart your career with Hult’s undergraduate business school. To find out more, take a look at our blog Reflections from an EMBA grad. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself.