Here we are again. Midterms are upon us, and even if you’re not in a classes that give a midterm exam, the middle of the semester is still probably giving you that feeling of proverbial drowning.

I’ve recently picked up a book called Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung. The book struck a cord with me the other day. In it DeYoung warns of three dangers of busyness, the first being that it steals our joy. That probably strikes a cord with all of us right now, and I just want to say don’t let it happen to you.

Don’t spend this time just getting by and wishing away your semester. Think about it in total, it’s fair to say college is the best four years of your life to this point, don’t let busyness ruin that.

Do the things that make that true. Don’t get me wrong, school is important, you are in fact a student first. Work is important, getting as much of that real world experience as you can is a valuable thing. But when we feel like it has to become everything we’ve crossed the line.

So, with midterms in sight, study for that test. But before you study for that test take a minute to breathe. In the middle of studying, take some time, maybe even a few hours, to do that thing you thing you think you don’t have time for. Take a day to recuperate. Don’t skip class, don’t blow off work, but don’t skip church, or that social event, or that one class to get ahead on that other class. I promise, there are enough hours in a day for you to live life, don’t rob yourself of that.

I may sound crazy, but just remember a few things if the idea of even juggling all of that stresses you out. It comes down to this: people are more important than that accolade you’re chasing. Your spiritual life is more important than your GPA. Your well being is more important than your to do list. So live life with joy when it seems like you should be drowning.