The smell of autumn is in the evening air, back to school sale commercials are airing every two minutes and newsletters are being emailed with meeting start up dates and pre-season football is on TV. It’s that time of the year again. Back to school, back to work, back to, well, life. This signifies the return of what I so lovingly refer to as the hustle and bustle.
Over the next few weeks, your planner will go from an activity or two a day to being jam-packed. You’ll go from having an hour or two to make yourself lunch and relax to a 15-minute on-the-go meal. Your stress levels will rise (check that cortisol), your attitude may come out and you may even begin to shed some tears as you adjust back into it all. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
I know that in our society we believe we do. We admire the hustle and bustle, placing it on one of our highest pedestals (closely behind efficiency, of course). We’re taught from an early age to be stretched as thin as we can go, being an “all around” student. Between studying for classes, participating in sports and theater, volunteering and having a job, we are stretched thin -- probably too thin. But our peers, parents, teachers and even role models tell us we can do more. So we believe it, and we do more and more and more and more. And as the final result our mental health, physical health, relational health and more all suffer. We suffer because of the hustle and bustle.
Now, I’m not saying it isn’t necessary. Of course it is. Lists are wonderful tools to help us accomplish goals and tasks. Being organized is a great way to participate in more activities and do more things. Being a well rounded person is a wonderful desire, too. There’s no question we have to do things with our lives beyond sitting at home and eating all day. But, sometimes, the realities of our quests are not nearly as wonderful as they seem.
I’m not telling you to drop your dreams. I’m not saying you have to quit every activity you’re participating in, or that you shouldn’t study for your big exam.
I’m telling you that maybe, though, what’s more important than the hustle and bustle is the hustle and balance. Taking a half hour at the end of a long day to journal, color, pray, write or read can do wonders for your mental health. Penciling in an hour for a yoga class can make you feel refreshed and renewed. Taking an ice cream break after studying two hours for an exam is most definitely justified (and getting some ice cream after the test is OK, too!). Prioritizing relationships with others (your parents, friends, colleagues, etc.) is not a waste of your time any more than sitting in on an organization’s meeting is. I’d argue to say it’s more important, actually.
While there is beauty in the hustle and bustle -- in finding ways to give yourself to the world around you- there is also beauty in balance, and in finding ways to give to yourself. This school year, I hope you find those.
