Time Management and Reflections

Here we are! The end of the second week. So close to Shabbas and I'm feeling it. It's been a long week of LOTS of reading and concentration and all I really want is Shabbas. Here's my weekly reflection followed by my 15th mission.

Day 14: "Shabbat" (remember, it isn't actually Shabbat)

• Give Cheerfully: I've decided to volunteer for the MLK Jr. Day of Service this year. Thankfully Hillel is offering some fun looking options so I'm excited to serve with a smile.
• When a Person Says "I'm Hungry": N/A
• Don't Play Favorites: In memory of my great-great aunt (z"l), a rabbi recently told everyone at shiva, the following midrash located in the third paragraph: http://www.ravima.com/2012/01/shema-listen-we-are-israel/ 
• Don't Make Your Family Afraid of You: N/A
• Support Political Asylum: So much politics, so little time.
• Bless Your Children: N/A

Day 15: Don't Waste Time

How many times do you hear college students or teenagers talk about binge watching Netflix? or participating in activities that you wouldn't necessarily support? Don't you think there are better things we could be doing with our time?

Rabbi Telushkin talks to us today about the value of time. He tells us that every free moment should be spent studying Torah. This seems like a lot and I'd like to think that God would like us to have moments to decompress and relax a little bit even if our time would be best spent studying.

I kept track today of what I did at what times to see how much of my time I spent doing nothing useful. To be honest, I wish I hadn't done this on a Thursday because I have one class tomorrow as opposed to the three I usually have and therefore, didn't do work tonight. But here's what my day looked like:

• 7:30 wake up
• 7:30-9 finish readings for today's classes
• 9-9:20 shower and the process
• 9:20-9:55 Times of Israel browsing and Israeli music, getting dressed and ready for the day
• 10-10:55 breakfast, Netflix and more getting ready for the day
• 11-4 classes
• 4-5 internet and snack
• 5-7 dinner with a friend
• 7-8 homework
• 8-12 drawing, Netflix, hanging with friends
• 12-12:40 The Book of Jewish Values  blog and section for tomorrow

I'm glad that at least some of my time has spent studying Jewish texts but I see now that I could do more. I still think it's healthy to have some time to relax and I'm glad that working through this book was my new year's resolution, but I wish I had more resources to study a little bit more.

"We don't kill time, it kills us" (21).