Lately I’ve been feeling overwhelmed.

If you’ve read some of my past columns, you’d know that I get stressed very easily, but lately it’s been consistent. And I do not like it.

I feel exhausted mentally and physically.

I have track every day after school until 5:30 p.m. Depending on what day it is, I’m doing sprint exercises the whole time, or I’m vaulting the whole time. Either way, my body is aching by the end of each practice, and all I want to do is go home and pass out.

But no.

I can’t go home and pass out because I have homework to do. And if I don’t have homework to do, then I’ll hangout with my friends. And sure, hanging out with my friends isn’t a necessity, but I’d go insane if I didn’t have a social life. Hanging out with my friends just makes me a happier person in general.

If I’m not doing homework or hanging out with someone, then I’m at the farm taking care of my horse Gypsy. And sometimes, I’m even writing a column like I am right now at 10:30 p.m.

No matter what I’m doing after track practice, I’m usually home around 9:30 p.m. and I go to bed around 10 p.m. And I’m up even longer if I need to write a column. Then again, I used to go to bed at one in the morning and wake up at 5:30 a.m. Thankfully, that bad habit is no more because I was very exhausted back then.

I’m dedicated to you all. You don’t understand how stressful these columns can be.

Something’s gotta give.

I’m wearing myself out to the point where I’m not trying my hardest in school anymore because my brain isn’t even awake, my diet is so off I can’t even begin to explain it, and I’m running on six hours of sleep.

We’re supposed to get at least nine hours of sleep you know. Teens need about 9 1/4 hours of sleep each night to function best, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

I need to cut something out of my busy schedule or at least try to get to bed at an earlier time. That’s a start.

I also know that I’m going to have to cut out my social life on weekdays because I guess that’s what the weekends are for, right?

My plan is to adjust my everyday activities after school. Instead of hanging out with friends until 9:30 p.m, I’ll go home and rest. Instead of staying at the farm for two hours (which I love to do) I’ll try to make that a little shorter. I have to have time for homework. Homework is the most important, and it comes before friends and my horse (sadly).

I am not a super human, it’s time I accept that and reign myself in.