Opinion: There’s no simple solution to being too busy with things you enjoy
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Here’s what a typical day in my life looks like: I wake up with the sun shining in my eyes and curse myself for choosing an apartment with south-facing windows. I eat a quick breakfast and finish up any reading left from the previous day before getting ready for class.
After that, I head either to work or home to finish my reading for book club and whatever homework I can get to. It’s completely dark out by the time I’m done with my last class of the day, after which I head to one club meeting or another.
If I’m lucky, they have free pizza. Otherwise, I make a quick dinner at home and relax for half an hour, usually while I schedule out my night, before starting a load of laundry and working on more homework. Rinse and repeat.
I was recently reading an article about insanely busy Harvard students and found it relatable. I’m lucky to get enough sleep for the most part, but when I think about it, I have signed myself up for a lot this term.
I’m taking four classes right now, all of which satisfy important graduation requirements. The homework is proportional and, since I’m majoring in English, includes a ton of reading. On top of that, I write for the Emerald (duh) and the KWVA music blog in addition to hosting a radio show and being in a book club.
I’m busy planning my thesis, and applying for scholarships and study abroad opportunities. I also work and attempt to have some semblance of a social life, and I’m plagued by all the mundane adult tasks like laundry, grocery shopping and washing dishes. As an admitted lazy bones type, trying to keep up with everything gets a bit exhausting
It seems like taking a break from something should be the obvious solution, but the problem is that I genuinely like all the activities I do. Maybe not laundry or math homework, but neither one of those is really negotiable.
I remember being pestered with a warning story about a girl named Anna when I was starting middle school. Anna liked art, archery, acrobatics and some other alliterative activities — let’s say arbitration just for fun — but her busy schedule caused anxiety. To make life easier, she cut down the time she spent on each activity without completely eliminating any of them.
I was irritated beyond belief by the story the first time I heard it. Even though it still makes me roll my eyes, it’s slightly more helpful as an adult.
Sure, I can’t really cut down the time I spend on most of the things I do. I don’t think my professors would take kindly to me saying I only feel like going to class for half the week. I can’t just submit articles whenever I feel like it. So many of the things I do revolve around group work, and it would be selfish of me to ask people to adapt to my schedule.
However, I’ve learned that I can make things easier for myself by dividing up tasks, completing parts of them when I have time and finding ways to make them more fun.
I listen to my records while I write articles. This one is brought to you by “Living in the Material World” by George Harrison. I knit while listening to class lectures. I play guitar before bed rather than scheduling a whole practice session. I call my parents on my way home from class and quickly deep clean my room while my laundry is in the washing machine. When I go grocery shopping alone, I listen to music to plan my radio show. I read for my book club in the gaps I have between classes.
The whole thing is a carefully constructed web, but when it works, I walk around feeling like the star student of the century.
There’s no singular strategy that will work for everyone facing a similarly busy schedule, but it’s important to try to find something that works for you.
For some, the internet might be a good starting place for time management tips. For others, advice from friends or just learning through experience might do the trick. Regardless, you shouldn’t feel forced to give up something you love due to demands from other clubs and activities.
When you learn to balance it all, you’ll feel on top of the world.