It’s another day at Colgate. Would you rather have a jam-packed schedule, keeping you up the hill and busy from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (maybe even longer), or would you rather wake up to a slow morning, two 50-minute classes, no afternoon obligations and limited homework? Odds are you’d choose the latter, a somewhat easy day with few obligations and plenty of free time to bed rot and catch up on the latest episode of your favorite show. While days like these seem appealing and relaxing, students can easily fall victim to a cycle of stagnation, constantly choosing the lighter option while pushing back obligations that will pile up later on in the semester. It’s these pitfalls that make longer, busier days better, keeping students moving, productive and more active.
Sometimes it can be good to catch up on sleep, take a break from piles of homework and take time to decompress; I won’t argue against that. These days are important to prevent burnout and ensure that you’re sharp and ready to tackle big projects and exams throughout the semester. With that being said, it’s better to keep a strong, lasting routine for most school days. Doing so ensures that you can make the most out of your slower days while maintaining a consistent schedule. Looking ahead toward our professional lives, odds are that we won’t be able to take hours out of the middle of our day to go home, take a nap, doomscroll and then go back to work, so why should we make that a habit now?
We’ve all heard the Law of Inertia: an object in motion stays in motion and an object at rest stays at rest. I believe the same to be true of people. If you wake up consistently, get moving early — whether that be a workout, a walk to breakfast or even just the trek to an early class — you’re starting your day with an effort to do something productive. After that initial choice, every choice you make throughout the day becomes easier. Once you’re in class, it’s easier to find a study space afterwards to immediately do your homework or reading; once you’ve eaten, you’re fueled and energized; once you’ve worked out, you’re wide awake. Each of these sets you up well for your next obligation. By stacking these productive activities, you’re less likely to succumb to the temptations of doomscrolling on social media, as you’re already locked in and feeling productive.
After working out, going to classes and studying, you’re likely to feel accomplished and satisfied with everything you’ve done rather than feel stressed out. This satisfaction can then carry over through the rest of your day. Your spree of productivity might leave you with some extra time in the afternoon — the perfect block to schedule a shift at your campus job, attend a meeting for the club you’ve been interested in joining or fill out some quick internship applications. After all, you’ve made it this far in your productive day, why not do a little more — find a space to socialize or send in an application for the position you’ve been eyeing?
If this still seems like too much, let me assure you that there is no better feeling than winding down at the end of the day with a movie or TV show with no concerns about work you didn’t get done or an exam you now have to wake up early to study for. Knowing that you accomplished exactly what you wanted to do on a given day will help you easily make it through the next day’s to-do list.
Once you’ve found a routine, filled your schedule and gotten used to the demands of a long day, your stress levels will subside and you’ll feel much more confident in your ability to get everything done. Not to mention you’ll be more involved on campus and better prepared for your future career. While it may seem daunting at first, your mind and body will adapt and you’ll inevitably feel like you have more time in your day and get more involved with your interests. Your future self will thank you for staying busy.
