The Little Things

“The Little Things”

By: Josephine Rustay

As high school students, our lives are often incredibly busy, especially considering COVID restrictions beginning to be loosened. Every day seems packed from morning until night, continually following the same pattern: wake up, get ready for the day, go to school, do extracurriculars, complete homework, go to bed, just to start it all over again the following morning. I am not sure about you, but this endless cycle leaves me feeling drained, unproductive, and lazy at times because I feel trapped doing the same thing every day. Over the past few months, I found myself searching for something new to help the days feel less repetitive and more productive, and through some research, I found that a few simple adjustments to my daily routine can help me to feel more productive while also providing a much-needed break from the continuous pattern of my everyday life. I hope that in sharing this, some of these ideas can help you as well.

One of the first things I began to implement into my daily routine is simply making my bed each morning. This may seem counterintuitive, adding one more task to an already busy day, but it has actually changed my perspective on the morning because it provides me with a sense of accomplishment early in the day. By 6:15 am, I have already completed one task, which leaves me feeling refreshed and organized. I learned this trick from the book Make Your Bed.. This book was eye-opening for me, as McRaven delves into how implementing little things “can change your life…and maybe the world.” The book later discusses how life struggles and failures can push you to be stronger. Overall, this book helped jump-start my journey into looking at my life from a new perspective and trying to put into practice some simple strategies that make me feel more productive, accomplished, organized, and in control.

Other than making your bed, there are plenty of additional small tasks you can incorporate into your daily routine. Giving yourself 30-60 minutes each day to engage in something that you enjoy and want to spend time on, whether that be cooking, drawing, reading, playing an instrument, or even researching colleges or other interests, can benefit you positively. I have found that this time provides a much-needed break from my daily routine while still allowing me to feel productive. During this time, I try to stay off of electronics (unless I am researching) because I can easily get distracted and lose track of time when I am on social media or watching YouTube or other shows or movies. Spending excessive amounts of time on electronics can leave you feeling unproductive and unaccomplished as well. According to Dr. Christopher Starr, an ophthalmology specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine, screen time can “certainly reduce the quality of life and work productivity.” Screen time is not a good use of the downtime you have in your day, so you should try to find something else that can lighten your mood, help you feel productive, and bring you enjoyment.

Another thing you can set aside time for in your day is exercise, whether that be going for a walk with a friend, participating in a sport after school, going to the gym, or even just stretching before bed. Keeping your body active is a great way to release stress and increase your overall health and sense of well-being. Our high school offers a variety of PE elective courses, which provide a great way to get in your exercise during the school day. Some gyms located around Holly Springs are Planet Fitness (open 24 hours/day), Lifetime Fitness (includes a pool and spa), Orange Theory Fitness, and O2 Fitness. If you are unable to get to a gym, taking a walk, going for a run, or riding a bike are also really great ways to stay active. Many of the recreation areas around us have hiking trails, frisbee golf courses, and water sport amenities. There is also an abundance of workout videos on YouTube that you can do right from the comfort of your home. Making time to exercise each day, even for just fifteen minutes, will provide physical, emotional, and mental health benefits.

Making time for “the little things” is very important when it comes to fostering quality of life in our busy schedules. Implementing some strategies that make you feel good and setting aside personal time for yourself to do something you enjoy are great ways to start feeling more productive, happy, and healthy. These are just some of the ideas I have found that help me feel more accomplished in my busy and sometimes overwhelming and monotonous, everyday life. Find and initiate the ones that make you feel the best, and your days will gain greater meaning. Don’t lose yourself in the business of your hectic life.