Recently, I have been tired ALL OF THE TIME. I cannot seem to get caught up with my sleep. I am busy practically every night, and when I return home after my various activities, I still have hours of homework left to do. What has changed since we were little kids? I seemed to never run out of energy when I was little. Now I cannot seem to find enough energy to get myself through the day without feeling like I am going to fall asleep around seventh period. Are kids too busy this day in age? Would life be better if it was more simplistic?
My schedule for the week looks like this:
Monday: Key Club at 3:30
Eat dinner
Dance Class from 6:30-7:45
Home at 8
Do homework until 10
Shower
In bed by 11:30
Tuesday: Prom workshops until 6
Homework until probably 10
Shower
Sleep by 11
Wednesday: My day for relaxation
Thursday: This is the day that is considered my "free day," so my mom usually books appointments and other various things for this day
Friday: Maybe hang out with friends... maybe. Only if all of my AP US History notes are done
I barely have any time to breathe. I feel like I am constantly being pulled one hundred different directions. Add the stress of trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, and that makes for a super stressed out, tired Mandi.
Sometimes I worry that it is just me that feels this way. But when I hear other teens complain about how demanding and exhausting their schedule is, I feel better knowing that I am not alone and when I reach rock bottom, there will most likely be someone else right there with me.
Life for teens used to be much more simplistic. There was not the constant pressure from teachers and parents about grades and college. Kids could be kids. They did not have to worry about how their one low grade was going to follow them for the rest of their lives. Maybe if kids would just take some time to "chill" with their friends and drink a milkshake every once and a while, we would not be so stressed.
The world that we currently live in is a demanding world. It wants us to have everything done as quickly as possible and done perfectly. Once and a while, we all just need a minute to breathe and relax and enjoy our childhood while we still have it. Because before we know it, it will be gone, and we will have forgotten to enjoy it and only remember the stressful times, not the great times.
Wow! I don't know how you did it, but this post really hit home this week! I was usually the kind of person who went home every day after school and had basically nothing to do. Now, I'm faced with something going on EVERY SINGLE DAY. I haven't been getting home until around six every day, so getting all my homework done and everything else I want to do is a real struggle. I was so glad there was someone, you, out there who thinks the same way. I always wish I was still a kid again, but your blog post reassured me that life will go on.
ReplyDeleteMandi, I really enjoyed this post because it is something I can definitely relate to! I liked how you included your typical schedule, as mine looks pretty similar to it. It's definitely stressful to worry about grades and clubs and sports and volunteer work all the time, and I really hope it all pays off like everyone says it does. But is it really worth four years of 24/7 stress to get high marks and attend college, where there are at least four more years of stress lying ahead? Maybe. I also liked how you suggested that kids should be kids, and enjoy their high school years rather than suffering through them because it reminds me how much I want to be a kid again and how I should enjoy my time as a teen. Great job Mandi!
ReplyDeleteThis was a really, really, really good blog topic! I can just hear you saying this. You did a really good job backing up your 'busy' schedule by saying exactly what all it entails. Lots of kids feel the exact same way you do but no one listens because we "don't know what we're talking about" or "it's not that bad." Really good blog!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lindsey, most people don't under how stressful and demanding a busy schedule can be. This is a topic that I personally complain about all of the time. I love how you did state your schedule, it is very supportive for your topic. Normally when I try to explain this to my friends they really don't understand how stressed I am and are telling me to stop "bragging" that I am in advanced classes. Why in the world would anyone want to brag about wanting to pull your hair out due to lack of sleep from the amount of work these classes require, plus all of the extra activities that go on like work, practices, and trying to make time for friends.
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