We're All Working Hard... Comparatively...
You've heard it before, and you'd be lying if you said you hadn't.
Catie: Oh my God, I have so much work!
Ryan: No kidding! I have, like, three papers due next Tuesday and a presentation on Thursday...
Catie: Yeah, I have a presentation on Friday. But I seriously have four twelve-page papers due on Monday. I haven't eaten all day, and I'm so tired... It's going to take me forever to do all this!
Ryan: Oh, I guess I haven't slept much either... but all my papers have to be sixteen pages long, with citations. And finals week I have four exams total. Two on Tuesday, one Wednesday, and my last one isn't till Friday. The nerve to have an exam on Friday that I have to stick around till then!!
Catie: Seriously! Gosh, I have too much to do. I'll never get it done.
Ryan: These papers are killing me. I don't think I'll ever see daylight in the next two weeks.
And the defeatest conversation continues from there... on and on, and no one gets anything done except reinforcing three points:
1) There is "so" much to do.
2) We (or whomever) will "never" get it all done.
3) Sacrificing food, sleep, and relaxation does not help the situation.
This is the time that everyone lists the things "to do" and prays to get them done with an ounce of sanity remaining. Listening to friends list their tasks to conquer, there's an unsaid comparison taking place. Who has more to do? Whose work load will take longer? is harder? will push them over the edge? Who should be pitied for the number of finals thay have to take?
[I'm recycling this post from Spring Semester 2005 since I thought the advice could apply to everyone this year, too. To be fair gender-wise, I changed the original "Jill" to "Ryan." All of us go through this... - Karissa]
The lists get longer and more ridiculous, each person pushing their agenda as the difficult one, looking for sympathy? Empathy?
All I've got is apathy. For this situation, anyway...
We probably don't even notice when we're doing this. But, recently, I've been taking note of it and really trying not to let myself get sucked into this "I'm-worse-off-than-you-are" game that doesn't end with a winner and a loser, but with two people that think they have more work to do...
Put it in perspective--by listing the seemingly endless tasks, we're really throwing our own piece of mind at bay. Telling ourselves we have "so much" to do and that it is "so hard" and that we'll "never get done" is conterproductive. Instead of talking about these things we should just haul off and do them!
And don't let friends that don't get this concept to drag you down with them. Let them list their tribulations, if they must, but tell them you're sure they'll get it done and that they'll be fine. Because they will. And so will you; but you are much better off not trying to play "anything-you-have-I-have-it-worse" game. That isn't getting anyone anywhere.
Make your list of things "to do" and put is someplace you'll see it--but don't dwell on it. Schedule time in your day for working on the papers and projects and presentations, but don't forget to schedule mealtimes and relaxation time, too.
Relaxation shouldn't be partying, but maybe just watching a movie with a friend, listening to music while sharing a pot of tea and talking, or just sitting outside listening to the wind and the birds.
Don't forget to schedule sleep, too, if you're the kind that will forgo your Zs to get it all done. Giving up precious sleep might seem like a solution, but in the long-run, it's actually more of a strike against you.
So good luck, friends. Take those papers to the pound. Grind out those last few readings. Study your stuff till you've got it in a snap. These last few weeks are a trial, but we can do it. I know we can.
But don't complain about it. And don't forget to live...
We're all working hard, comparatively.
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