Written By Harjot Wazir
Coming into university I thought I had to do it all. I had to get grades, join clubs, volunteer, go to the gym, have a social life and still have time to breathe. If I wasn’t doing all of it I felt like I was falling behind.
At first saying yes to everything felt like I was making progress. Every opportunity seemed important. Every commitment felt like something I needed to take on. That quickly backfired. After feeling productive I just felt overwhelmed.
There were days where I had planned so much that I couldn’t focus on one thing. I would go from studying to a meeting to then volunteering and try to catch up on work late at night. It looked like I was being productive. I was just stretched too thin.
I remember one week where everything hit once. I had deadlines, a club commitment and other things I had agreed to. I was rushing through everything while thinking about the next task I had to check off my list. When I was studying I wasn’t fully present and immersed in my lectures. That’s when I realized that being busy doesn’t mean being effective.
I started to realize that saying yes to everything means you are unintentionally saying no to something. Usually that something else is your well-being, your sleep or the quality of your work.
Learning to say no wasn’t easy. It felt uncomfortable at first like I was missing out or letting opportunities go. Over time I understood that prioritizing a few things and doing them well is more valuable than trying to do everything halfway.
Now I ask myself “Should I do this?” Instead of asking “Can I do this?” Does it truly align with my goals? Will it add value to my life now or is it just something I feel pressured to take on?
University is not about doing everything. It’s about figuring out what matters most to you and giving that aspect of your life your undivided attention. Once you start prioritizing instead of overcommitting, everything becomes more manageable and honestly more meaningful.