One quarter gone. 11 weeks past. We’re now deep into the regular rhythm of school. We know the beat by heart – the measure of a class period, the accelerated tempo of assignments and the cadence of the week resolving into the harmony of the weekend.
There is little rest in this fast paced melody of school. At times, unfortunately, it seems like the only song in our playlist – an endless stream of academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities. Five days a week, it echoes in our ears as we struggle to stay afloat and fight to swim towards the bright horizon of the weekend against the ever-beating tide of schoolwork.
Each of us has developed our own nearly- mechanical routine for combating our schoolwork that keeps us up late at night or up early before sunrise. At times, it’s a vicious cycle that wears us down to the point where we hopelessly seek refuge in the blue solace of Facebook. This might be a slight exaggeration; however, there is no denying the fact that school, homework, sports, activities, and a brief period of sleep define the majority of our daily existence.
It’s time we break the cycle.
A routine is only as monotonous as you make it. Take a second to catch your breath. We all need to step away from our schoolwork sometimes.
Challenge yourself to do at least one thing differently each day or at least each week outside of school. For instance, have breakfast with your friends, read a novel, bake, take the time to relax and leaf through this copy of the Globe Newsmagazine, or go out to dinner with your family. Anyways, when was the last time you had a long, sincere conversation with your family or friends? What ever happened to those Saturday morning bike rides or Sunday night family traditions? Where is your spontaneous behavior? For the most part, it’s these times when we break the routine that we have the greatest productivity upon returning to our schoolwork.
So do something different today.
Whatever you decide to do, make each day special in some way to stand out from the routine. Today should not be just another date that you etch in the top corner of a handout. Seize the day.
