Since I was a little kid, I abhorred being “bored”. You can ask my mom! Anytime I was bored it was like the world was ending; whether that was reading or writing or going to dance class or playing a video game, I had to be doing something, anything at all times to be satisfied. I still experience that same feeling, except now it’s on a much larger scale. Instead of reading and writing and playing games, I fill my free time with clubs and leadership positions, classes and homework, and working on this blog. Some of my friends tell me I should slow down, take a break, eliminate the stress that is a constant presence in my life. And they’re not wrong; stress is inevitable. Sometimes there are days that I don’t have time to eat until like 5pm in the evening because I had an event or class every hour on the hour and it can feel like I’m drowning, but is it weird to think that all of the stress is worth it?
My enjoyment of being “busy” is partly due to my personality and partly due to the things I am a part of. In regards to my personality, I just dislike being static; I dislike the idea of doing nothing. Constantly being busy keeps me motivated and focused – running on a tight schedule makes it easier to prioritize, and I live for the feeling of accomplishment I get after finishing a full day of meetings and work. I have a penchant for constant flux, which might be why I always hated being bored as a kid, and why I love cities so much; it’s fun to always have someplace to be, a new opportunity to learn. Though I have learned over the years to cherish the moments of nothingness that are inevitable in life – I’ve gained a new appreciation for just sitting outside and people-watching, and I have developed a serious relationship with naps – I almost always prefer to be doing something.
Do you like being busy? How do you handle a packed schedule?
