Hello dear friends at Positive Exposure! I am super excited to be a part of the journey to changing how the world sees and seeing how the world changes! As classes start up again, I am trying to get into a better routine.

Here’s a typical day in my life when I head to college:

7:00 am : Wake up and meditate for 10 minutes using Headspace. I absolutely love Headspace. It has helped me with my anxiety by giving me the tools to become more present and live in the moment. I do a daily morning stretch using Shona Vertue’s yoga videos.

8:00 am : Eat breakfast. I love making omlettes and if I’m really feeling some veggies, I add some onions and bell peppers to spice things up. Some days I drink a protein shake with aloe vera, blueberries, dates, almonds, organic protein powder, and honey. It wakes me up with a refreshing bundle of antioxidants!

10:00 am – 4:00 pm : Attend classes in college and study. My daily schedules vary in college, so I have lunch in between whenever time allows. I pack a lunch and eat somewhere on campus. In between class, I typically head to the Student Activity Center or the library to study during the day since I can’t go back to my apartment.

5:00 pm : Workout at the gym. Exercising is something I have been adding to my weekly schedule since the beginning of summer. It has made me feel more confident and stronger. After a long day, it also feels good to lift some weights and let the stress out.

6:30 pm : Eat a snack. I usually drink milk in the evening and eat a small snack – typically bread with almond butter and some carrots.

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm : Study. Taking notes and reading takes much time. I try to take hourly breaks to give my head some space.

8:30 pm : Dinner and Facetiming my family. I typically eat rice for dinner since it is an Indian staple. I love talking to my parents and my brother after a long day at college.

9:00 pm – 10:00 pm : Study. (COLLEGE HAS LOTS OF STUDYING!!!)

10:15 pm – 10:45 pm : Read a book or watch TV. I am trying to get into the habit of reading more. Whether it be fiction or non-fiction, I try to open a book for half an hour to read for pleasure. It is better than flipping through social media and the internet. This is something I have recently started trying and I already feel calmer before I head to sleep.

11:00 pm : Journal for a few minutes and sleep!! Sometimes I do a sleep meditation on Headspace if I am unable to fall asleep or if I feel very anxious thinking about the next day.

There’s my typical day! I am trying to include some art in my daily schedule since it makes me feel really relaxed. Also, my days might not look like this all the time. This is my ideal schedule. Some days, I feel more tired and I sleep in. If I have exams, I tend to stay up late. As a pre-medical student, my days are packed with studying. I also have volunteering and organization meetings throughout the week. I am involved in Texas Public Health, Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-health honor society), Camp Kesem, Global Vitiligo Foundation (organizing events), and Support Group leadership. Through these organizations, I attend several events during the year such as socials and fundraisers. This year, I will be shadowing a pediatric surgeon. I look forward to sharing all of these experiences with you! Schedules are a work in progress and that’s okay! As long as I know that I am working towards a goal, it makes me feel happy.