Speaking to my classmates about life during an MBA usually leads to one conclusion: that an MBA is more intense than work.

Yes, classes only take up 12 hours of time every week. However, on top of classes, we have to make time for:

• Group work
• Assignments
• Readings and case study preparation (especially for strategy)
• Clubs
• Random functions (such as prep for Drag TG)
• Socialising and partying
• The inevitable sickness that comes as the seasons change

When the weekend comes, you can't just switch off and know that you have 2 days free to chill and relax. Instead, there is an onslaught of assignments, group work and preparation that needs to be completed before the cycle starts again on Monday.

None of this is easy, especially when we have progressively shortened our attention spans as well as our ability to write in anything more complicated than bullet pointed slides. Additionally, when FOMO kicks in and you want to do x number of things but your body/schedule can only handle n<x things, you will always feel disappointed and that you are missing out on fun and exciting things to do.

So given all of this, how do you stay calm, happy and satisfied?

In our introductory strategy, the first thing you learn is that strategy is more about deciding what not do do, versus deciding about the best things to do. A good strategy forces you to make trade-offs between choices and saying "no" to things means that you understand what strategy is.

Looking back over the past few months, my average week before classes started looks markedly different to my past two weeks. During this time, I have either intentionally or unintentionally given up on the following things (and have become somewhat happier for it):

Netflix

I love TV shows. In the past, I would watch 1-2 hours of TV a day, even if I came back from work at midnight. I love the entertainment factor of TV together with the mental stimulation that comes from an interesting character, plot line or theme. My fun fact when introducing myself to my section was that "I can binge watch most Netflix/TV series in one day" (which is true).

Over the past few weeks, I have ended up watching very little TV. Instead, much of my free time has been spent doing some sort of exercise (including soccer and flag football) and hanging out with friends. Where I have had time to myself, I have read books (such as Donald Trump's Art of the Deal or Ray Dalio's Principles) or listened to podcasts. Today was the first day in a few weeks where I spent a lot of time watching TV and I found it somewhat exhausting.

It turns out that I don't miss watching TV.

Krav Maga

Before I came to Kellogg, one of the goals that I had set for myself was to learn a martial art, preferable Krav Maga. I ended up going to a trial session at a local Krav Maga gym, which I absolutely loved! The classes were physically and mentally intense. I realised how terrible and unfit I was as a fighter and that I basically stood zero chance in any kind of dangerous encounter. Once I had finished the class, I wanted to come back straight away. 

However, classes started and I quickly realised the benefits of having a flexible calendar. Given the schedule and the cost of the local Krav Maga gym, I decided to put it off until next quarter (at the least). Instead, I've decided to focus on running and my personal training to achieve my fitness goals.

Any form of art (photography, drawing)

During my time in Dubai, I set a grand goal for myself to learn to draw and to regularly take photographs during my MBA program. I had visions of sketching places that I travelled to and taking stunning photos that I could print and put up on my wall. Instead, I have a piece of paper with some moderately shaded circles and a backlog of a few thousand raw photos that are yet to be processed.

Does me not learning to draw or not processing most of the photos from my travels in Egypt and Jordan give me joy? No.

Am I any less happy than I would have been if I could sketch or had all my photos processed and uploaded? Probably not

Learning to cook

Another things that I planned to learn when I started my MBA was to cook. I dreamed of opening recipe books and choosing exotic dishes to cook while listening to podcasts. I thought I would enjoy my evenings with friends over a meal that I cooked and a glass of wine.

Instead, I have spent way too many nights at Chipotle and am now trying Soylent for my lunch. While I am going to try and learn to cook, I've decided to limit it to pastas. If I can master a few pastas (my last attempt at cacio e pepe was a bit of a fail), I'll then progress to other foods

What have you given up?

For any of my classmates reading this blog, think about what you have given up during the past 2 weeks. Is it something that would give you more happiness? Is it something that you should take up again? If so, what are you going to give up to make it happen?