Going back to college every year presents transitional issues. This transition can exacerbate already present issues that were not addressed in the comfort of daily life over the summer. I have always been a person who copes with many distractions. My mind does not shut off. I am always thinking of what is on my to-do list, what my 5-year plan is, and situations that transpired in the past.
Being torn in every which way does not make it easy to live very presently. I have noticed that I am not as engaged in conversations or in class, and I am not able to enjoy the small, but meaningful, joys of everyday life.
I saw this post on Pinterest (where lots of my wisdom comes from) about the concept of “slowmaxxing”. This is the idea of taking your time doing things. For example, spending a whole evening perfecting your chocolate chip cookie recipe, reading a 500-page book, or taking 15 minutes to make your coffee in the morning.
I think something that supports this idea is learning a new hobby. My boyfriend recently started playing the guitar, and says it helps him take a break from the chaos that is college life. Similarly, my best friend learned how to embroider and is currently learning how to knit (we call her a grandma). First of all, learning something new really humbles you. People have the common misconception that if you didn’t begin an instrument or a sport at 4 years old, you can’t start now. I like to counter this thought with “If I start now when I am 20 imagine how much improvement I can make a couple of years down the line”. Although I have never played the piano before, I just began taking lessons. I have been able to use that as an outlet and as a learning experience.
This week, one of my professors described herself as a sloth. She mentioned how she does everything very slowly, even speaking, because her brain needs time to process and take information in. I had an ‘aha’ moment when she said this. We weren’t created to just ‘go go go’ all of the time. Sometimes, it is more than enough just to be.
Our society places an exorbitant emphasis on productivity and success. I think it is time we redefine these variables. If we are able to think more critically, have more peace, and have gratitude for the things around us, I would consider that pretty productive and successful.