Orange & Blue

Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: Opinion

Anna Kate White [Click to enlarge]

Somehow spring semester seems much busier than the fall and I have yet to figure out why. After almost three years here at Carson-Newman, I discovered that if I allow my schedule to become too busy it tends to consume me and I live by my planner. Every time I ask someone how they are doing it seems to be that everyone says that they are busy, I then concur and quickly pass on by to my next activity. In the midst of all of this busyness people often get so caught up in their schedule that they become overwhelmed and stressed out. So what is the solution to this tango that we dance with our schedule and how do we accomplish the necessary tasks without becoming weighed down?

There are many different ways that people release tension and stress in their lives and I think that it is important to find what works for you to ensure your personal sanity. Some need to relax and watch TV, while others want to sit and talk to a friend. In my life I have found that running is my stress relief and that I must make time everyday to exercise otherwise I will be overcome by the homework, ministry commitments, intramurals, and many other responsibilities that I have everyday of my life.

Through finding this, I have allowed myself to live life a little more slowly. Everyone is busy and that is just a fact of life. I am convinced that life will never slow down and we will always live our lives in anticipation of the next activity. Spring break is quickly approaching, a time when students and professors have a break from the routines of education, and we all get to relax and rest. So do we live constantly looking forward to the next vacation or it is there a legitimate way to live life being busy and enjoying every minute?

Practically, I believe that I have found a way to accomplish all of the things on my to do list and still be able to sit down at night and watch an episode of Friends with my roommates or go and watch my friends play intramural basketball. It may seem slightly anal however each morning I make a list of the things that I must get done that day. This helps me to manage my time during the day so that I can plan in time to relax and sit. Simply writing out what tasks I need to get done each morning helps me to know that I will get everything done on time and complete all assignments and not have to constantly worry about remembering everything.

So in the midst of your busy schedule, take time for yourself whether it is exercising, cooking, watching your favorite TV show, or just hanging out with your friends. It seems that everyone has so many irons in the fire right now and I encourage you to not become overwhelmed and take one day at a time. This will allow us all to live life a little slower and enjoy every minute instead of becoming frustrated and overwhelmed in the midst of our busy schedules.

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