Midterm season is here. I have a take-home midterm due Monday, an exam on Tuesday and a paper due Wednesday, not to mention the numerous smaller assignments I have due in my other three classes. At least for me, it seems that the beginning of the semester flies by and time comes to a halt during midterm week. It’s literally the slowest week of the year. Unfortunately, this slowest time does not extend to the amount of hours I need to get my work done. There never seems to be enough hours in a day for every assignment to be completed.
I am aware of good time management techniques. I’ve been told to plan ahead for what needs to get done, to prioritize my workload, as well as any of the other thousands of words of wisdom that one generation of students passes on to the next with regard to handling a college workload. But I did plan ahead. I spent my fall break working on three papers, under the assumption that this weekend would be mine to enjoy. On this, I was quite wrong.
All work and no play are not good for anyone. Unfortunately, no amount of play will influence a class grade. In the past, I’ve planned to complete my work first and enjoy whatever part of my day remains. On a week like this one, nothing remains.
Still, it’s not all bad. I get through heavy workload weeks by thinking about the future. Today doesn’t look good. Tomorrow might not be any better. But next week looks free. If I get through my work now, I can enjoy myself then. I’ll work hard today to benefit myself tomorrow.
Nothing in life comes easy. College time is no different. I put in an effort and hope for the best. All anyone can be expected to do is try. You succeed sometimes and fail others. Here in particular, persistence is a virtue. So basically, put your best foot forward and let life take its course. The outcome isn’t always optimal, but nothing in life can be perfect.
InProgress 
Matt,
The good news is that this week is now behind you. Like you, at times I feel so much pressure to get it all done that I leave little if any room for taking care of myself. It is perhaps less a matter of “all work and no play” and more a matter of “all work and no care.” This lack of margin in which you can recharge your batteries so to speak might be making things more difficult. Take some time to be good to yourself. Find something that makes you feel less pressed and allows you to explore the lighter side of your life. Keep holding to your optimistic outlook for the future as that probably helps a good deal when you in the midst of things. Your work is most excellent and much appreciated. Thank you and keep it coming. Rob
By: Robert A. Holsapple on October 30, 2009
at 10:17 am
Isn’t the the real challenge for people of faith to figure out how to live in the present moment acknowledging each day is a gift from God and yet not fall into a shortsightedness that comes from believing ‘today is all we have’? Deferring gratification without the appreciation of the gifts of the present day leads to a grumpy sort of faith characterized by the (stereotypes of) Calvinists. They could not appreciate art or beauty because their noses were at the grindstone. Yet, to only live for the day leads to a hedonism that is quite selfish as well as shortsighted.
By: Beverly Dale on November 2, 2009
at 5:44 am