Busy Bum?

August 29. 2006. 11:37 AM.

I'm supposed to be on vacation right now and people think I have all the free time in the world... I thought so too. But if having free time means having nothing to do, then I don't have any of that. I have tons of things to do - some of them I look forward to, some of them I dread. I think I'm busy because there are so many things I want to do with my life - not having homework, projects, exams or full-time work doesn't change anything. Time still flies like the wind for me, and everyday leaves undone a hundred and one things that have to be added to tomorrow's to-do list. Honestly, the only difference between life now and life as a stressed young engineering student is that I now have time to sleep for more than a few minutes each day.

I believe that "free time" is time to do whatever you want without being restrained by certain to-do's dictated by your job or school - to-do's that you don't really want to do but "have" to do. But looking at it from another perspective, I honestly believe that everyone has all the "free time" they need. I believe that every minute and every second is "free time". There are no "musts" in the world of tasks and chores except those that we choose to regard as such: I must take care of the baby; I must study for my test tomorrow; I must finish my C program tonight; I must go to school; I must meet this person; I must cook dinner; I must write my report; I must go to church; I must brush my teeth and so on and so forth.

There are definitely plenty of good reasons why you should prepare for your board exam next week or why you should attend an important business meeting, and that's why you choose to do these things despite adverse tendencies. You might be itching for couch potato time, but your wife insists that you need to spend quality time with the kids so you spend your vacation leave with them on a camping trip. You had to do it. Or you really wanted to watch a movie with your friends this weekend, but Gramma's sick and you have to visit her. Afterwards, you hear yourself saying, "I had no choice!"

But did you really have no choice? Quite the contrary - you have complete freedom to decide how to spend your time. You choose to obey your parents; you choose to do whatever it takes to keep your job; you choose to stay awake and study so you will pass your final exams... You weigh the options and think about what's really important and you choose what you think is best for your particular situation.