I was browsing the interwebs today when I remembered that I actually have a blog. And yes, while I know it is currently very limited with a meager two posts thus far (now three), I plan to up the ante and give this experiment a second try. So here I am.
Lately, my life has been taking some interesting turns. As a high school senior with college right around the corner, I've been called upon to make some exceptionally tough decisions that I didn't think I'd have to worry about for quite some time. But here I am with these decisions, and sure, this may not have anything to do with "Literary Design," - or it might, I'm not finished thinking of what to write - But if my advice can be extended to just one person than I feel it was worth it. So let's begin, shall we.
The first thing that I've noticed about senior year is this: You have no time for anything else unless you just plan to slack off, which I'm not putting down, but I wouldn't recommend it. However that doesn't mean you should give away doing all the auxiliary passions that aren't school related. You have to MAKE time for them. For example, when I'm cramming for a college essay (get them out of the way early, by the way) and I've finished, but I'm still in the writing mood, then I pull open my novel and click away a few paragraphs to keep the juices flowing. It didn't take but an extra ten minutes, but it was well worth the effort and helps me not dread whatever comes next (at least not as much).
Likewise, when you do magically have spare time - the occasions few and far between - try not to just laze around, watching Southpark or Simpsons or Gossip Girl or whatever, and do something that you love. Crochet, play disc golf, enjoy life to the fullest, not that which lives in a screen. I know this will be hard for those who just feel wiped out, but trust me, the end result of doing something that you enjoy is much more appreciable and will leave you feeling better than not doing anything at all.
Finally, sleep. When you get it, great, but don't abuse it. Just because you have to wake up at 6:45 every morning and go to sleep at 2:00 am every night doesn't mean you should wake up 3:00 pm on your free Saturday. Yes, get enough sleep, but if you end up with too much sleep, you can't help but feel sluggish for the rest of the day, a great cause of the problem in the preceding paragraph. So get a brisk 8-9 hours and start doing something you enjoy. Go watch a movie with friends or build that birdhouse you say you never have time to.
You would be amazed at how much spare time you have after you take out all the sluggish TV time and superfluous afternoon sleep. Now is that to say you can't ever do these things? No, of course not! This is just to say don't use that as an excuse for not having time for anything else. Do what you love, not what's easy, at least most of the time, and trust me, you'll feel like the world started spinning right beneath your own two feet.
Enjoy life, Friends.
GC
