Imagine you're sitting in your dorm room, apartment, wherever, doing homework. It's around 7 pm. Your homework isn’t urgent but it's busy work you should just get done. A friend texts you and says, "Hey! I'm going to a bible study in 15 minutes. Would you like to come?" You read the text and wince a little because you're really not up for it right now but you will feel guilty if you opt out. In the end, you respond by saying "Maybe another time; I'm busy with homework right now. Thanks for the invite!" Your friend then accepts that because she understands you do have homework and your education is important.

Ten minutes later your popular self gets a text from another friend that says, "I'm bored and wanting some coffee. Want to come to Starbucks with me?" You read the message, look down at your homework, shrug your shoulders, and respond "Yeah, sure why not."

Why do we make time for our wants, but not events that are healthy for our lives? Why do we always use the excuse that we are “too busy?” Yes, in today’s society we are all busy; that is a true statement. But we are losing sight of the line between I actually am busy and eh… yeah, I can use it as an excuse.

We cannot help that our lives are hectic. Our world is fast paced and we have to keep up, but making time for ourselves and others is important. If we don’t make time to connect with people we care about, then those relationships will fall apart in time. We will also begin to lose our identity in other things if we don’t take time to spend time alone, breathe, relax, brainstorm, write, pray, read, draw, nap, or whatever you need to do in order to know yourself.

I know it’s hard to get up out of bed sometimes or make those little sacrifices, but wouldn’t you want your friends to do the same for you? Next time you are invited to an event, or just a walk, don’t think about being busy; think about the connections you can make with the person you will be spending time with. Make time to see your friends every day, tell your family goodnight, ask deep questions, go on a drive, sleep, anything really! Making time is difficult, believe me I know, but it’s worth it. Hearing about something your silly little brother did at school or seeing your friend’s face light up when she tells you how well she did on a quiz today or listening to James Bay while cleaning your room relieves stress and brightens my day for sure. I hope you have those little things that you can make time for as well.

Let’s stop using “I’m too busy” as a lazy excuse to spend time with people we care about. Instead, let’s make time and show them we care and want to hear about their day and be a part of their lives. Being busy all the time isn’t a lifestyle everyone wants, but sometimes it’s inevitable. We learn to cope with it and manage our time better. In the end, forming and building relationships is far more important than that homework you didn’t finish.