When “I’m So Busy” Becomes the Norm

How are you? 

So busy!

Is there anyone on your campus this time of year who is not responding this way when asked how they are doing? It’s the most common response to this question most of the time, but especially as the year is winding to a close and finals are quickly approaching. Busy becomes our default. 

But why are we so busy? 

There are many reasons why busy becomes our norm. Here are a few reasons that you may be able to relate to:

• We aren’t managing our time well. Sometimes we just aren’t planning our time well. Or at all. It may just be as simple as writing everything down (even on an actual paper planner!) and making sure you have everything mapped out. 
• We have too much in our schedule. Having too many things in your schedule is a lot like trying to fit too many clothes in a closet. You may be able to shuffle a few things around, make them look a little better or fit a few extra pieces in there, but at the end of the day you cannot make your closet bigger. At least not without renovations. If there is too much in your schedule sometimes the only answer is to take a few things out. 
• It makes us feel important. We live in a competitive culture and the college campus takes that to the extreme. When everyone around us is busy, we feel the need to be just as busy. We feel important when we are at all the things, leading all the things and going from one thing to the next. 
• We are trying to distract from something else. Sometimes there are other circumstances going on in our lives that we’d just rather not think about. A family member who is sick. A breakup that broke our heart. Our parents divorce. Tension with our roommates. Life is hard. Sometimes it just feels easier to put our heads down and fill our days with all the things so that we don’t have to feel those very hard feelings that we have. 
• It’s just the season. Sometimes we are busy simply because it is a busy season. The end of the semester and finals definitely fit into this category. As well as heading up or participating in a big event on campus. If you’re an athlete or artist or musician you may have seasons that ebb and flow. Post-college every job comes with it’s own busy seasons as well. Sometimes it is just a result of the season we happen to be in. 

So what now?

Whether it is just the season or one of these other reasons also applies, there is hope for you to be less busy, even in these last few weeks of the semester.

Here are a few ideas to help you to not just survive but potentially even thrive in these last few jam-packed weeks:

• Build in time for silence. Even just a few short minutes of intentional silence in your day can clear your mind and help you to be more present where you’re at. 
• Edit your commitments.
  • If your priority these last few weeks is to get the best grades possible, then focusing on studying and fueling your body and mind will be the most important things you can be doing with your time. You need to be prioritizing sleep, healthy meals and quality (screen-free) time to study. You can edit out a lot of time spent going out, staying up late and wasting time scrolling on your phone. 
  • If your priority is to enjoy your last few weeks of campus before graduation, then creating time for your community and bucket list items will probably be your priority. I’m not suggesting completely editing out studying for your finals, but you will probably need to spend less time on this than in years past! 
  • The most important thing is to find what works for YOU and YOUR priorities (if you want help thinking through these for summer or next school year, connect with Simply College!). Adjust your schedule accordingly as your priorities shift. Once you learn how to do this in different seasons, you will be so prepared for life after college!
• Get outside! I know this seems like one extra thing to do in the midst of so much else to do, but getting into fresh air is so important for our mental health. Carve out some time, grab a friend and go for a walk around campus. Even 10 minutes can make a difference! You’ll be so much more productive after some time in nature!
• Carve out time to take care of yourself. This is something you already know but it can be easy to forget in the midst of being so busy. Eat healthy foods. Drink enough water. Go to bed at a reasonable time for when you need to be awake. Practice a morning and evening routine. Talk to a therapist if you need to. Stay connected to community. Say no to excess — junk food, alcohol, screen time (enjoy little treats, but don’t go overboard)! Taking care of your body and your mind will help you to be able to focus on all the other things on your to-do list. 

Be on the lookout for some resources soon to help you create space in your week! 

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