Learning Challenge: An Addiction to Busyness

When I saw the title of this article, Being Busy Permanently Reduces Our Ability to Think Creatively, it immediately caught my attention. I mean, I'm a college student and what college student isn't constantly busy? There are always papers to write, quizzes to take, texts to read, and that just barely begins to scratch the surface of it all.

However, Derek Beres argues that being constantly busy and on the go actually does just as much harm for us as it does good. Reading such a statement was alarming as someone who is always on the go. Especially as an English education major, creativity and individuality are both things that I will undoubtedly be pushing my students towards almost daily. So how is this issue solved?

I think the most impactful thing I took from this article is the need to be still. Honestly, I personally love being still. I have to have my me time every once in a while or I get super bogged down and end up putting myself in a bad mood. However, this me time used to make me feel guilty at times because I felt like I should be doing something, not laying around and doing nothing. Now, though, with the perspective of this article in mind I can take my time for myself without having to feel guilty for doing so, knowing that it actually is serving an important purpose.

Hammocking and reading are some of my favorite ways to relax

and get the much needed time to myself. Source: Flickr

This week, I want to challenge myself to take time for myself a couple of times throughout the week, not being anxious about all the things that I feel like I have to do. Those things aren't going to go anywhere so I think it is highly important that I have my time for myself and my time to maintain my sanity.