For one of my college applications in the Spring of 2019, they asked me to describe how we managed our time and even after re-reading my explanation, I have no idea how I handled it all.
I’m going to take you through a typical day in high school and my reaction to it now, knowing it is okay to say no to things and that rest is just as important…even if I do not take this to heart all of the time.
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“BEEP! BEEP! BEE…” It was 6:01 so I rushed downstairs to make breakfast and take care of my dogs. All I needed to do was feed them and then find something for myself to eat. I grabbed a protein filled shake and began the search for my Cross Country uniform and rehearsal outfit.
At 7:00 I drove from South Carolina to North Carolina. Per usual, I was in stuck in traffic listening to language podcasts to prepare for French. 35 minutes later, we were finally at school and I headed to the gym to put my sports bags away and then to the math office for extra help until class began.
During a 30 minute activity period between 3rd and 4th period, I attended to club meetings filling bags with food for young students in Charlotte and making dog toys for the animal shelter. I packed everything up and then continued with my class schedule, completing homework during lunch and my free period in preparation for the day ahead of me.
At 3:10, I went to the gym, grabbed my sports bags, and drove to McAlpine Park for our Tuesday afternoon race. I hauled the cooler with snacks for the team and up the gravel path to our tents. My teammates and I braided each other’s hair until we heard our captain yell, “GIRLS, WARM UP!” We ran along our usual mile-long path through the woods, stretched, and sprinted to the start line. Anxious before the race, I swayed back and forth in the starting box until the gun went off. 3.1 miles of tree covered trails later, I reached the finish line. I took a deep breath, grabbed a cup of water, and immediately went into my cool-down run. I had to make it back for rehearsal.
I cheered for the men’s race, I changed out of my uniform, and followed my GPS back to school…this wasn’t my first time going from a race to the theater. I entered the performing arts center with a few minutes to spare to eat the salad I packed that morning. My friends and I signed in as we entered the black-box, doing yoga and improvisation before working on our staging for the performance that was only a few weeks away. Relieved to have a moment to use my imagination and unwind, rehearsal didn’t feel like work to me, especially after having completed a 5K.
Rehearsal ended at 9:15 PM and I drove the half hour down the quiet interstate until I got back to my neighborhood. Luckily, I had completed my homework during breaks at school so I crashed.
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Sometimes, when I look back on high school, it is hard to believe my typical days looked like my story above, rushing from activity to activity while still maintaining honor roll. It was exhausting. I equaled rest with sleep, and if I had taken the time to spend time with myself doing nothing or practicing self case, I might have been less overwhelmed.
What I neglected to tell the admissions board when I explained how I had “discovered a system to manage my time,” was that often, it felt impossible to take a step back and say no to a few obligations. I was and still am constantly in motion, trying new things, meeting new people, and participating in various activities. Even during the extended quarantine due to COVID in 2020, I found ways to occupy every minute of my time.
So, what have I learned? It’s okay to take a break. Repeat after me: “I am not lazy.” Despite what the “That Girl” tutorials or society might tell us, we do not need to be productive all of the time. If you think about it differently, in a way, self-care itself is productive. Self care and rest are about listening to your body when you need a breather and then carving out the time. Take 10 minutes, a Friday night, or even a weekend and say yes to rest.