DO EVERYTHING, DO ALL THAT YOU CAN
By Kelsey Sutch
Sleep for 8 hours. Wake up early. Go to the gym. Dress well. Be aesthetic. But don’t look like everyone else. Go to all your classes. Read books. Listen to podcasts. Go on a walk. Hang out with your friends. Study every day. Do not let your screen time be too high. Get a side hustle. Be skinny. Not too skinny. Do not be fat either. Go to church. Go out. Fit into the mold of how you are supposed to look. No, actually, it's better to look like yourself and be natural. Save money. Do not save and live your life. Learn a new hobby. Also, do not try to do something everyone does. And the list goes on and on.
These are the expectations our current young society is expected to meet, and, quite frankly, they are not only unrealistic but also incredibly damaging to the youth. Let's start where this all began. Optimisation culture refers to “the shared societal belief that we can and should continuously improve our lives. It is the idea that with the right tools, techniques, and mindset, we can make our work more productive, our bodies healthier, our relationships more fulfilling, and our minds sharper.” Having started as a culture meant to enable and empower people to live their optimal lives and better themselves, I believe it has taken a hard left turn. While yes, constant improvement in one's life should be the goal and is a very good thing, it has led to unrealistic and unattainable standards for the average everyday person.
Given the realities most young South Africans face, they are simply unable to fulfill all these expectations. They are struggling economically and must look after their families. Hobbies cost money too, and some cannot save money because how does one save when they already have nothing? And all this with the extra pressure to look a certain way, too. How unfair it is when they are simply just trying to survive each day, and if every single day is a challenge because you feel like all these expectations bind you, do not do it. I offer a new perspective: Doing all that you can.
If you do not get 8 hours of sleep because you were hanging out with your friends, that is okay. Do not wake up early. Sleep in because you need it. Dress weirdly, forget about aesthetics, following trends, and looking like everyone else. Yes, go to class, read books, listen to good podcasts, and hang out with your friends. Also, study every day and do not let your screentime get too high. Do not worry about how your body looks; you are perfect exactly the way you are. Go to church and go out; you are young, you do not have to choose. Do not fit into the mold and be exactly and unapologetically yourself. Do not save money, spend it all, and have fun. Learn a new hobby if you want, whatever it may be. Do not worry about these never-ending lists of what you’re supposed to do. We are so young. Just live. Life is tough enough as it already is.
So, whatever it is you do every day, whether it is simply going to your classes and studying, or only reading 5 pages of a book, whatever it is, it is enough for you and for your life. Life should not be a massive to-do list; one should simply be living. Try your best every day, and that should be enough. Do not be in relentless pursuit of doing everything. Simply do all that you can. I will leave you with a beautiful quote I read: “Just because you could be doing more does not mean you are not doing enough.” Remember that.
Edited by Lathitha Matebese
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