Nathanial Garrod

On Being Busy

We make time for the things that are important to us. I have not made much time to type quality posts on here. The importance of my writing needs to be higher. It is what I like, after all.

My job is in a field where I can very easily be consumed by my work. I can easily be caught up in doing this task or that task and spending all my time doing work, whether it be actual administrative tasks, or checking e-mails or creating lesson plans and etc. I think what I have learned in the past year is that I need to NOT be caught up in all that. I have a job. Not a life-sucking parasite. A job.

I have things that need to get done by the end of the day. Then after that I have a life. For the past few years, I’ve been afraid that if I take some time off and hang out with friends, or if I stop and watch a movie, or read a book, or do something else, I will not be living up to the commitment of my job. I have been so scared of not being there 24/7 for those that I serve that I became enslaved to being available all the time.

At the beginning of the semester, for my current position, one of my supervisors required that we read three short pieces on being Student Leaders. One of the pieces was called the Starving Baker.
Ever since I read it, I have lived by it. I have breathed by it. The essential principle is that an individual needs to take care of their own life before they can be any help to anyone else. One needs to rest, to relax, to do their own work, before they can help ease the burdens of others.

I think this gets overlooked a lot in the field of student leadership. Student Leaders tend to think that they can take on anything and everything. They tend to “overyes” (as the faculty member I work with would put it) and become very overwhelmed. I am glad I am at the point in my student leadership career where I know that I can say no, and be confident in it. I wish it was a lesson that I was fully able to understand at an earlier point in time.

3 Comments on “On Being Busy

  1. Amy
    November 6, 2010

    It’s not just in Student Leadership. I’m having these issues in my work too. Some days I just want to scream. Trying to make some changes at the beginning of the year. Any advice?

    • njgarrod
      November 6, 2010

      I think just take a step back and breathe. You need to take care of yourself first.

      Also, everything you do is your choice. Get out. visit friends. watch a movie. relax. cause it makes everything else easier when you’re passionate and motivated about what you do.

  2. Marissa
    November 10, 2010

    I hope that you find some time for yourself and friends too. =] We should do something sometime soon. I have not been making plans with anyone lately…or ever this year I think. Been kinda keeping to myself which is fine, but it gets boring sometimes. I hope that you are doing well! And you should write more because I’ll read it. =] I like keeping up with what’s going on with people.

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This entry was posted on November 6, 2010 by in Thoughts.

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