It's no surprise that life gets hectic from time to time, but how much craziness can we handle before we shut down completely? This is a question I am continuously struggling with.
In this incredibly fast-paced world we are bombarded with time limits, deadlines, goals and objectives, and sometimes there hardly seems time to process it all. Where is the balance between being busy and being burnt out?
As college students, I'm sure we're all familiar with what it's like to eat dinner from a vending machine, or not be able to return to our dorm rooms and apartments even for a quick break during the day. Stressful feelings affect our every day routine with classes, paper deadlines, scheduled exams, appointments, rehearsals and practices.
On days when I am gone for 12 hours at a time I struggle to find a balance between a satisfied feeling of accomplishment and a creeping sensation that I can't keep living like this. I know that personally I feel proud when I can complete an extensive list of tasks and responsibilities in a time efficient manner.
Does there come a point, however, when it is necessary to sacrifice those feeling of success and worthiness when slowing down and taking a break instead seem essential for maintaining one's sanity? I know I am constantly making excuses for myself for why I am continually on the move, insisting that being active and hardworking is essential to human growth, and that laziness is never a virtue.
Maybe sometimes though, we (myself included) take on too much to conceal the fact that we can't always do it all; that we aren't superhuman. Perhaps we do not comprehend that slowing down and taking a break does not equate weakness or idleness at all, but rather a sane and necessary action.
Being busy and involved definitely has its perks, but if underneath all the running around you feel more panicked and exhausted than fulfilled and satisfied, it's definitely time for some rearranging. Some things that we participate in obviously mean more to us than others, but often we will say yes to certain responsibilities just out of guilt.
I know I've definitely done that several times. It's hard to remember we all have a backbone and that we should take advantage of the fact that we almost always have a choice in the matter.
As I sit writing this column with the deadline rapidly approaching, a thousand other things that need to be completed are on my mind.
When we undertake too many tasks, we are not only being unfair to previous engagements but also to ourselves. It's hard saying no, and of course there are a handful of responsibilities we cannot simply decline. But if we ever do have a choice, and we wouldn't be sacrificing an intense interest or passion of ours by turning down the challenge, it might be imperative for our survival.