It’s starting to get very busy around here. Papers are due and midterms are happening. And free time is . . . Wait, remind me again, what is “free time”? There are so many things that we can do in one day theoretically, but we never seem to have any time. Students around campus continue to moan that there aren’t enough hours in the day. We can do homework, visit friends, or sleep (a luxury hard to come by in college). Take me for instance. I’m finishing my column right before it is due while eating dinner, right after I just came back from my job. You have to love those deadlines!
Some people may think what I do is crazy. I wake up early everyday not to finish that research paper or go to class, but so I can practice ice skating. I’m one of the rare breed of college students that would rather go to bed early because I like being able to get on the ice before I go to my classes. These practices aren’t mandatory, but I usually find myself waking up before my alarm (much to my roommate’s dismay) because I’m excited at the prospect of gliding on the ice – despite the fact it would be nice to get that extra hour or so back in the morning to sleep. If you love what you do, it’s easier to sacrifice your free time in order to dedicate your time to the hobbies and interests you love. But if you find yourself hating how you spend your time then you should probably reconsider whether or not it’s really worth it.
I know what is important to me and consequently I devote my time to my priorities. So even though I never get to sleep in past 8:30 a.m., I don’t regret my tiring schedule because I’m fulfilled by how my day unfolds. Now, I know my schedule doesn’t work for everyone. Not everyone is crazy like me, but I’ve come to accept and appreciate that.
It’s a great feeling to see people waking up early to go jogging, to study, or to just get a head start to the day ahead. I find their dedication to their goals refreshing. I usually feel the opposite when I see people staying up late because they didn’t budget their time correctly during the day. I know I’m an old curmudgeon, but I have little sympathy for people that don’t know how to get down to business.
With so many choices available to us, we need to make sure we have the ability to prioritize. You’ll have to deal with the consequences, both good and bad, of how you spend your time, so you might as well enjoy what you are doing and spend your time wisely. It’s a busy time of year, but stay strong and together we will make it to spring break!
Maria Gellepes is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. She can be reached at mg887@bu.edu.
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