You sit at a library desk, surrounded by books and ready to undergo the first steps of writing what is sure to be a long and grueling paper. However, outside the window it is a beautiful day and you can see some of your friends playing ultimate on the grass.

You hesitate, debating whether to put off the paper and join them, or continue in your academic pursuits.

At some point in his or her college career, many students have faced dilemmas similar to the one presented. The core issue is when necessity conflicts with want, and the consequences that may result from that conflict. The fact of the matter is that this conflict is healthy, and that it allows people to develop what is important to them.

It is not uncommon for a strong work ethic to be instilled in students from a young age. The constant pressure of doing well in school so that someday you can do well in college or grad school, and then perform well in your job until you die is a philosophy often indoctrinated upon young students.

They may hear it from teachers, parents, coaches, or other authority figures. The message is always the same: Focus on your studies, do well, make money, and someday you may be able to relax. Yet when is this far off someday?

This does not mean that it is a good idea to shirk your studies, nor does this mean it is a good idea to focus on them entirely. There needs to be a balance, which can be hard to find as a college student is drawn relentlessly into classes that become increasingly difficult.

This is complicated further by trying to maintain a social relationship with friends, families, and other acquaintances. This balance comes from finding activities to relieve the stress of class work and jobs, such as sports, video games, reading, shopping, or even going for a short walk.

Still, there are also those spur of the moment activities, such as joining your friends in playing ultimate, or ignoring that paper for one more night in order to go out on a Friday or Saturday night. Are these healthy?

The answer is yes, but like all other things it involves a need for balance. Sometimes it is necessary to act on impulse in order to relieve tension, or in order to experience new opportunities.

However if a person starts acting on impulse regularly, then they may find their lives lacking in order and organization, and likewise they may appear erratic and flighty to those around them. This is where it is necessary to have balance and develop willpower.

Impulse may be fun, even relieving, yet it is not as healthy when done the night before a large project or paper is due, or when planning a large business meeting. One might be angered if they found that an executive for a large company had decided to take a week’s vacation in Hawaii the night before a large meeting on the company’s future.

Impulse is good, it has use and it helps people express themselves in great ways. However there are always consequences to impulse when it is done irrationally. Balance is the best way to proceed, this with a dose of measured actions and evaluation of consequences.