We are often overscheduled and obsessed with efficiency.&nbsp;A plethora of opportunities awaits and we are eager to seize them all, as though we fear if we allow ourselves to squander a few minutes, the world is at risk of changing without us.

The overscheduled mind

We need to carve out a time for ourselves and cement it as a weekly appointment into our overbooked schedules. Equally importantly, we must learn not to feel embarrassed by this personal time and instead value it as useful.Appreciate the mental and emotional clarity these moments can bring; in the long run, they will actually increase our functionality.

Set time aside daily

We do not allocate enough downtime in our schedules. We cannot continue to plow ahead at maximum speed without acknowledging that personal time is necessary.The key is to find a level of stimulation that is exciting and challenging, but sustainable.

Find a sustainable middle ground

Last summer, I traveled to Greece with 21 other Duke students on a summer study abroad program. Only two weeks after I completed my spring semester finals, I was swiftly whisked back into the Duke bubble. However, this bubble was quite different from the one to which I had grown accustomed throughout my freshman year.

Find a sustainable middle ground

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