Sometimes, it’s healthy to be an idiot.

With so many people doing their best to excel in academics, be active in extracurriculars, and maintain a social life, it’s not rare to see people burnout or breakdown as they try to balance the three.  

To-do lists become a thing for competition. I’m pretty sure we’ve all had that conversation where we would say all the things we have to do, and then the person we’re talking to would reply by telling us their own set of tasks. Conversations are reduced to running through the list of things to do and saying, “Ugh, I’m dying.”

I have friends who would take on position after position for org projects or school events, and when asked why they do this, they would say that it’s for the resume. Part of me wants to tell them to just quit and that they aren’t completely defined by their accomplishments, but I would be a hypocrite. I also indulge myself in work because I’m worried that my resume won’t hold up when applying for a job in the future. The lingering fear of inadequacy will always be at the back of my head.

Now, why is it healthy to be an idiot? Last semester, I felt that I had taken up too much that I could handle. Physically and mentally exhausted from extracurriculars, my academics slowly started to suffer as lackluster long tests and failed quizzes piled up. My relationships with family and friends weren’t at their best either. I rarely got to see my friends anymore. I would be working on something in school as they go on their spontaneous adventures. At that point, I felt numb and unmotivated to do anything. I was desperate for a break from all the things that were happening in my life.

I then decided to stay late in campus to take a walk. It was a cool night and the school was quiet, with just a few people strolling around. Walking along the Red Brick Road, I saw my shadow on the wall of Schmitt Hall. I got amused with it and took out my camera and did silly poses. People that were passing by took long glances, but I was so into what I was doing that I didn’t really mind them. The whole thing sounds silly now, but at that time, it was all I needed to recover emotionally. It made me forget about all the requirements I had due and be happy for just a couple of minutes. I felt like myself again.

Nearing the end of this semester, I see myself back in that situation. The many holidays and class suspensions we’ve had this semester only made things harder for both students and professors. I stress over not doing things perfectly and drown myself in work to the point that I don’t have time to spend with friends, or even myself. The way I spend my weeks is determined by the deadlines that I have on my calendar, and anything that isn’t related to org work or academics is given the least priority.

To end, I think a big side-effect of trying to excel and be the best is that we tend to take ourselves a little too seriously and forget about our health. And maybe, it would do us good to take a step back and do our own small, silly things to ease off the stress.