3M National Student Fellows tackle the ‘Cult of Busy’ with new website
'We're sometimes referred to as the squeeze generation,' says Brianna Smrke, a fourth-year student in the Arts & Science Program and one of the student coordinators behind Cult of Busy.
How busy is too busy?
There’s no right or wrong answer, says 3M National Student Fellow Brianna Smrke, and finding out where to draw the line is different for every student.
Enter the Cult of Busy — an online support network for post-secondary students who want to lead active lives, but not feel overwhelmed. Smrke and nine other 3M fellows from across Canada launched the website last month, and hope to educate their peers on the most effective ways to feel motivated and stress-free during university.
“Students today are asked to balance a number of different commitments in a short amount of time,” said Smrke, a fourth-year student in the Arts & Science Program. “We’re sometimes referred to as the ‘squeeze generation,’ and it can have a big impact on stress levels if managed incorrectly.”
The Cult of Busy was conceived last June, when Smrke and her fellow 3M recipients met and swapped ideas at the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Annual Conference in Cape Breton. In the weeks and months that followed, the concept was fleshed out through a series of Facebook chats and Google Docs shared from coast to coast.
The website is broken down into three main categories, Slow Down, Be Busy and Cases Against Busy, and populated with personal essays, photos, videos and multimedia content generated by 3M Fellows and freelance contributors. Essay titles include the likes of: “When busy bites back,” “Knowing who you are” and “Obsess over what you love.”
According to Smrke, the best way to stay busy while avoiding stress involves using a day planner to block out time for different activities, and avoiding a lengthy to-do list.
“Whenever I’m able to plan my day in small increments and take a look at the big picture, it really helps,” explained Smrke. “Students should take stock of their day before stepping outside in the morning. Take a few minutes to narrow down what you have to do, and how long it will take.”
Emerson Csorba, a fourth-year Political Science student at the University of Alberta and co-lead on the project, says Cult of Busy may be the first of its kind in Canada.
“I believe this is the first resource that critically examines our busyness culture,” said Csorba. “There are other articles that focus on being busy (such as Tim Kreider’s The Busy Trap), but Cult of Busy is the first resource that brings together commentary from a wide range of sources: academia, consulting, student life and other areas.”
McMaster students wishing to get involved are encouraged to submit new content or pitch story ideas. Personal reflection pieces and anecdotes are highly encouraged.
“Ultimately, we want students to ask why they’re so busy, and examine some of the larger issues,” added Smrke. “It’s all about making the most of your time at university.”
