Everyday we wake up, we throw ourselves into the crazy, busy working world. We might grab a coffee, spend an extra few minutes fixing our hair, or some other task that will help us get through the day, and look good while doing it. But how often do we take a few minutes or even a full day to just stop and do something we want to do, rather than need? It's more often than not about getting ahead, and working hard to afford our tastes and commitments. Yes, work is important. Yes, school is important. So is eating, sleeping and relaxing.
Example: When you work out too hard, too often, for too long, you aren't building muscle anymore. This over exertion just wears down the tissue and stunts muscle growth. Recovery time is just as important as the work out itself.
Likewise, in daily life, if we are devoting all of our time to work, other people, and the "necessities", never giving ourselves time to breathe and take care of ourselves, we don't give ourselves a very good quality of life. I've experienced time and again malnutrition, exhaustion, and a lowered general level of happiness due to trying to fit too many things into my day/week. My eyes have always been to big for my stomach, and I can never finish all that I put on my plate. So now I'm working hard on taking it easy.
Now to clarify: I still work a full time job, and I still strive for all my ambitions. Although, instead of looking at every free second I have and trying to cram in something practical, I am trying to make sure I allow some of my free time to just enjoy life.
We only live so long, so why not spend a free hour listening to your favourite music, or walking in a park on a sunny day? Whatever the activity, it's well worth your time to recharge your batteries by doing something that just doesn't matter at all! Even now, as I type this, I've dozed off about six times! I didn't give myself enough time to sleep in the last few days, and now it's hard to stay awake after work. I've been doing merchandising early in the morning, getting up at 5am for my day job, and that requires a good, early sleep time. But other than just sleep, doing things you like that are completely separate from the potentially stressful and difficult parts of life is good for your soul. And when the soul and mind are happy, the body can much more easily follow.
Everything you do in life doesn't have to be pushing towards the greater good. You ARE allowed to give yourself the opportunity to do something that isn't important in any way, and does nothing more than make you smile.
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