There are some times when I feel like I can handle everything that life throws at me, and then some. This is a common misconception shared by many students, and it may result in something called: Overcommitment.
In high school, I was involved in and held leadership positions in several activities that would sometimes (though it felt like most times) caused me to be at school from 7:00 (or earlier) in the morning to 10:00 (or later) at night. I loved everything I did, and I wanted to be involved, but I found myself overworked a great deal of the time. My high school friends would probably agree (because many of them shared my overcommitment "problem") that having any time to relax or eat a decent meal was a challenge on most days.
In my first year of college, I tried taking a step back, to keep myself from joining too many clubs or ensembles, and I am so thankful that I did. Starting my second year, I felt like I could pick up the pace a little bit -- I took more credits, joined more ensembles, took a position as an RA -- and the proverbial feeling of weight put back on my shoulders is definitely becoming increasingly evident.
Now, I would never want anyone to think that I don't absolutely love the things that I am a part of, because I do. I feel so fortunate to be on a campus that supports its students and everything that they might be involved in. I know it isn't just me -- there are so many students on campuses nationwide that struggle with the same problem. So the following are a few reminders for my fellow overcommitted friends, peers, and students everywhere:
1. Take time to eat.
My family and friends, past, present, future, are all probably screaming "hypocrite" at me through their screens right now. It's true -- I have developed awful eating habits (though I am trying to change them). I'm not talking about the kind where you eat too much sugar or don't eat your veggies (although I've been guilty of that as well), I'm talking about skipping meals. I'm not the only one who does it, either. It's an epidemic in this country. It's amazing the difference in making time to eat at least five times a day is as opposed to only eating one or two meals. It's time to plan out your fuel so that you might have the energy to complete all the tasks you have to do in one day -- your body and brain will thank you.
2. Take time for your friends.
While you're busy with so many activities, there may be days where you don't get to relax or socialize with friends. Many people may have friends that are just as busy as they are, which makes this next part a little more difficult -- but not impossible. Try to schedule a time in your day or week to sit down and eat a meal, do homework, Skype with... make time for your friends. It will give you a chance to unwind with your favorite people, and chances are that they need that time just as much as you do.
3. Take time for yourself.
This is so much easier said than done. Sometimes it is so hard to relax for even five minutes when you have so many other things you want to think about -- but sometimes, you just have to find a way to shut your brain off. I find that taking a half-hour to just relax and not do homework after school or dinner is most effective for me for a mid-routine reset -- and many people can have several different variants of that tactic as well. Perhaps combine free time with meditation or exercise to let off some steam before getting back to work -- you know you want to, and many would be surprised to find that it actually helps.
Making time for at least one of these three things may help someone who feels like they're weighed down by all they have to do in one day. Ideally, we would all have time to do all three (and more) things every single day -- but sometimes, it just doesn't happen. By making time to reset your mind and body, the effectiveness of your work can increase significantly. Slowly but surely, gradually making and executing a plan to incorporate these things into your daily routine may mean the difference between a breakdown and motivation.
