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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Kenyon chapter.

I often have found myself in one of two positions: feeling overwhelmed by the many, many things on my to-do list or feeling like I do not have enough to do. It’s an odd and frustrating predicament, and it is one with which I struggle to find a balance, especially at the beginning of each semester.

During winter break, I found myself often feeling bored, like I had nothing to do, and especially that, besides my friends and new classes, I didn’t have much to look forward to. Even my extra-curricular activities, ones that I love and enjoy doing, started to feel more like part of my routine than something new and exciting to look forward to and to take up some of the free time that I felt I had too much of during the previous semester. Many readers may think I am crazy for saying I had too much free time, but something I have noticed about myself is that when I do not have enough to do or enough to look forward to, I become lazy, unmotivated, and just generally sad. This especially occurs in cases when everyone else around me is always busy doing their own things, and I’m left with nothing to do besides get way too far ahead on my homework (again, I know you’re thinking, “crazy”) and binge-watch Netflix. While both of these things are incredibly nice to have time to do every once in a while, when that became all I was doing besides going to class, participating in my routine extra-curriculars, and occasionally seeing friends, it started to feel not only lonely but also incredibly unproductive.

Scrabble tiles spell out \"To Do\" on a blue background above a yellow sticky note
Pexels
So, when this semester began, I knew I had to make a change. Although I was incredibly reluctant at first, I rushed a sorority. I auditioned for a musical that it’s always been a dream of mine to be in. I made a greater effort to see my friends when I wanted to see them. And now, I find myself with not much free time on my hands, but with a new focus for my work, a new group of amazing sorority siblings, a new set of lines to memorize, and a feeling that when I do have free time, I have earned it.

Silver macbook by planner and flowers
Pexels / Alana Sousa

I do my best when I’m busy. It’s something that’s always been true for me, but that I don’t like to admit. But, being busy keeps me focused, especially when the things I am busy with are a good mix of things I have to do, things I want to do, and things I should do. So many of the things I’m doing now and the people with whom I am spending my time make me happy, and even with all of the free time I had before, that was not something I felt to the degree at which I feel it now. Although I will almost definitely feel stressed at some point this semester trying to balance my new activities with my work and already existing responsibilities, I feel a new fulfillment that I did not feel before, and from experience, I know that the stress will pass and what will remain are great memories.

 

Jenny Nagel

Kenyon '20

Jenny is a writer and Campus Correspondent for Her Campus Kenyon. She is currently a senior English and Psychology double major at Kenyon College, and in her free time she loves to sing, cuddle cats, and fangirl over musicals.
Hannah Joan

Kenyon '18

Hannah is one of the Campus Coordinators for Her Campus Kenyon. She is a Buffalo native and plant enthusiast studying English and Women's and Gender Studies as a junior at Kenyon College.