Going To School And Having A Life. Your Guide To Finding The Balance
So much is expected of you and hopefully, you also have high expectations for yourself. With everything that has to be done and everything you want to get done, it's no wonder that there’s such a struggle to find a balance. Life is short and to be truly fulfilled, you can't have just one thing going on. Your life can't be all about school and it can't be all about your personal life - yet, both need attention. How do you do it all?
Here’s how:
1. Keep a calendar. Your brain isn't a calendar and there's no reason to expect yourself to remember everything. We all use calendars, but if you aren't using one to keep track of virtually everything, then start today. Mark it all, from the date of your next assignment to the date of your next date.
2. Say No. You simply can't do it all and do it all well. Determining priorities and being committed to sacrificing as needed, will do wonders for your academic career and social life. If you're supposed to study and someone wants to go out … just say no! If you're already out, you know you have to study, but feel tempted to stay out even later … just say no! There will be time to do all things you want to do, just not all in one day. Anyone hearing “no” from you will understand or will have to learn to. And, watching you stick to your goals, may even help them do the same.
3. Make health & wellness a priority. When you aren't well, everything else has to take a back seat. But, if you keep your health and wellness in the front seat, you can keep the feelings of a virus brewing to a minimum. For more info, take a peek at a 101 wellness tips here.
4. If you aren’t social, get social. If you already have an active social life, then scroll on down! It's important for you to interact with others, beyond what your professional or academic lives require. You should be around people you actually enjoy and you should hang out regularly. You can always join a club or attend school meetings that interest you. But, there are other ways to meet people and that may mean taking you out of your comfort zone a little bit. Don't be afraid to start a conversation with someone you find interesting. Find what you have in common during the conversation and ask them if they’d like to hang out one day. Someone has to start the conversation and it may as well be you.
5. Designate a workspace. Whether it's the library, Starbucks, your kitchen table, or bedroom, you will need space that can be consistently used for work. If your living situation doesn't allow you to have access to the same space regularly, it's okay to designate multiple spaces. Just don't choose too many. The goal is to associate being in that space with taking care of schoolwork.
6. Schedule social time. Sure spontaneity is amazing, but not always realistic. You are in school for a reason and your time there is very temporary. To succeed, you will have to make the best use of that time. Scheduling time to hang out will ensure you stay socially active, all while making sure you keep the appropriate amount of time open for your studies.
Hope all goes well & Have fun!
