Schoolwork,
band, service, work, family, friends…are there even enough hours in a day to
accomplish everything?? You just have to learn to make time. With all this talk
of New Year’s resolutions why not make a resolution to manage your time better?
In these last days of winter break take some time to sit down and look over all
of your responsibilities along with your schedule. Setting a routine for
yourself is one of the first big steps. Be realistic as you set this, can you
really accomplish all of your school work in one hour and still make it to band
practice? Probably not. Set yourself up for success by being honest about how
much time you will need to devote to each activity. Routines are hard to get
into, but once you get started, they are even harder to break. So make sure you
are getting yourself into a good routine!
When
you are feeling overwhelmed it is important to look back at everything and
remember why you began it all in the first place. When you are under so much
pressure it is easy to lose that motivation that you began with. Take some time
to reflect and remind yourself why these things are important to you. At times
of great trial you can lose your focus and just want to throw in the towel. Get
back to your roots and remind yourself why it is all important. School work
getting rough? Think about the proud moment that lies ahead as you walk across
that stage to receive your diploma. TBS/KKY work starting to overwhelm you?
Think about how wonderful it feels to serve and know that you have made a
difference through your actions. Everything is worth it, sometimes it just
takes a few deep breaths and some deep thought to remember that. For huge
daunting tasks, break them up into smaller tasks. Completing big tasks can seem
overwhelming at first but if you sit down and think of all the little things
that go into it, it doesn’t seem quite as bad. Start with the simple stuff
first. There is no greater feeling than being able to start crossing things off
your ‘to-do’ list and sometimes that’s all the motivation you need to get
start. Well at least for an overly organized nerd like me, anyway.
Most
importantly, always allow for a little “you time” even on your busiest of days.
Whether it is relaxing with a good book before bed or an early morning run
while the rest of the world is still fast asleep, these moments to yourself are
crucial for maintaining your sanity. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Eat
right, exercise, get some sleep; all that good stuff. Nothing is worth running
yourself down to the breaking point. Keep yourself happy and healthy and
everything else will begin to fall into place.
Overall,
be sure you are filling your time with things you are passionate about. Passion
is what drives motivation. Think about how long it takes you to complete a
chore you have been dreading versus how quickly you can complete a task you are
especially excited about. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Nothing great was
ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Do what you love and love what you do. There
will be times when you will get stressed or even want to give up. Those are the
times when you need to take a deep breath and just take it one step at a time.
You can do anything
you set your mind to, the first step is believing in yourself.
Alana Leeti
Tau Beta Sigma-Zeta Upsilon Life Member #3030
Northeast District VPSP 2012-2013
Tau Beta Sigma-Zeta Upsilon Life Member #3030
Northeast District VPSP 2012-2013
