Over the years, we have constantly been told to slow down and enjoy the little moments in life. At the same time, we are constantly being urged to do better and take on more. Before we know it, we have been pushing ourselves for so long that we look back and realize we have missed most of high school, “just trying to get through the week.” As we rapidly approach the end of the school year – and for some, graduation – I want to remind everyone that these last few months, while hectic, are also meant to be fun.
The world has filled our heads with lies that we always need to be busy and have something to do. The second we slow down and sit in silence, we are deemed lonely and boring. The feeling that we always have to be busy doing something has led our society to neglect the things around us and people around us. Where did this false idea of how to live life come from?
It is easy to get stuck in your own thoughts, thinking about things that have not happened and possibly never will. According to The Guardian, people spend 46.9% of their time thinking about things they are not actively doing. Harvard psychologists conducted a study that shows people are not happy when their minds wander off topic, but we continue to place that weight on our shoulders. The study concluded that people are not unhappy because of the job being done, but because they are not actively focusing on the job.
With the advancement of technology over recent years, people have found it harder to be present in the everyday moments. People always have their phones and one small notification can completely derail a conversation. According to the Center for Intimacy Connection and Change, “the alluring glow of screens, coupled with the ceaseless stream of notifications, can captivate our focus to the detriment of our relationships.” It is hard to be in the moment when answering a text, scrolling TikTok or playing Block Blast.
In a hectic fast paced world, it is important to find time to slow down. This starts by finding a way to balance the things that need to be done, while also setting aside time to relax and have fun. At the start of each week, making a to-do list gives a visual reminder of what needs to be done throughout the week. Then you can easily split tasks up throughout the week and schedule time to slow down. These to-do lists prevent procrastinating everything or trying to do it all as soon as possible and getting overwhelmed. Being aware of your limits helps prevent over committing and pushing yourself too hard.