If there was a crime related to committing to too many things, doing too many things in one 24 hour day, or living each day hour by hour, eagerly waiting to check each thing off a to-do list, I would be found guilty of a felony.
As a full-time graduate student with a part time job and social life in my early 20s, I have a lot on my plate, a lot of people to see, and a lot of places to go. Despite being able to successfully tackle all of this and more (only by the grace my professors and my God), it’s not exactly the healthiest or best way to live.
I am confident many of my fellow millennials in their 20s can completely relate. Do you wake up some mornings truly in fear of not being able to get everything done you need to do that day? Are you awake until the early morning finishing tasks because you ran out of time during the normal day hours? As soon as you cross multiple things of your list, do you think of multiple things to add in order to replace your progress? There never seems to be an end.
When I’m busy, I feel productive, but also many times exhausted, stretched thin, and overwhelmed.
So, what are our motives for being busy?
Are we trying to seem popular and important?
Are we avoiding something and needing distractions?
Are we just bored?
These are all valid reasons why people keep themselves busy. Valid, but not desirable. Understandable, but not healthy.
However, a quote by Jim Elliot says it all. “Wherever you are, be all there.”
Regardless of our motives for staying busy and filling our plate, as long as we are fully present wherever we are and with whomever, our motives aren’t as important.
Give yourself fully to the situation at hand. It’s not fair to the people you are with or the job you are tackling to be focused on a different person or task. You are committed to that one thing at that moment, so be committed fully. No one likes half-hearted people.
So what does this look like practically?
When you’re having dinner or coffee with a friend, put your phone away. If you need to check the time, buy a watch.
When at church, try your best to forget about school and work and not make a to-do list in the middle of the sermon.
When on the phone with your grandma, don’t be scrolling through Facebook.
I am guilty of all of these things and more as I'm sure many of you are, too. We all can agree those situations sound shameful and embarrassing. No matter how long it takes or how much you have to sacrifice, be all there. Always.
