David
How should I best manage schoolwork and a healthy lifestyle in college?
Anyone can answer, students and professionals alike. I'd like to know how you all manage it. #health #college #sleep
8 answers
Jose Pedroza
Jose’s Answer
Hi David,
In my experience, what you can do is definitely have a set schedule to follow. When I first started college I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of free time I had. I would go to class, the professor would assign homework with a completion time frame, and we would be responsible for remembering to do the work, and submitting it on time. If we didn't, we did not get any second chances. It was great to know I was free to set my own schedule, but often I found myself studying late into the night and dawn just to finish because I was not organized on the time I set aside for schoolwork. Once I separated class time from free time, I took advantage of the time between classes , as well as 1-2 hours per day after school for schoolwork. That allowed me to have free time with friends,family and do extracurricular activities without feeling guilty or worried about schoolwork I had left unfinished. I was also able to go to sleep at regular hours, I had more energy overall, and I did much better with my grades. It's all about how you choose to manage your time and how well you stick to the schedule you make for yourself. Don't worry David, I'm sure you will be just fine.
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Paul Gullatte
Paul’s Answer
I suggest you write out a daily schedule in an excel spreadsheet. I did this when I was in school and it helped a lot! By creating a schedule of not only your class times but also dedicated times to study, you can ensure you won't fall behind on assignments. You should also schedule free time so you know when it's time to be serious and get some work done and when you can just kick back and relax. The spreadsheet should also include going to the gym or enjoying some other activity to keep you fit.
Jose Serra
Jose’s Answer
A lesson I learned from the Bronx Tale from Lorenzo :" He's wrong, it don't take much strength to pull a trigger but try getting up every morning day after day and work for a living, let's see him try that, then we'll see who the real tough guy is, the working man is the tough guy, your father's the tough guy!"
The situation talks about doing things the easy way life and finding an easy route however with humility I can tell you just because some people have it easier in comparison to next guy that doesn't mean they have better time management skills. There is quote by Paulo Cuelho The Alchemist about somebody who wanted to enjoy the wonders of the world with an oil of spoon. Focusing on keeping the oil in the spoon and enjoying the world are two important things. So it is best to be focused when you need to be, and relaxed when you can each moment comes and goes.
The actor who plays Sonny in the Bronx tale has an amazing podcast and he suggests that patience is important learning to be patient and accepting the situation for how it is.
Emitom Hillsman
Emitom’s Answer
Hi David,
I think Jose provided some great advice above. I'd also recommend planning ahead on your assignments. Just because you have a paper due in two weeks, doesn't mean you shouldn't start working on it now. For your major assignments, determine how much time you need to complete them and how far in advance you need to begin them to meet that deadline. You can use daily to do lists in your planner to help map this out.
Outside of school work, it is important to build healthy habits for your mental and physical health in college. I went to a school with on campus dining. While I didn't have much time to cook during the school year, I took advantage of healthy options that were served in the dining halls. Additionally, many colleges have fitness centers including in your tuition. Try out different classes and activities to determine what you enjoy and make a habit to incorporate it into your weekly schedule.
Hope this helps!
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Megan Peters
Megan’s Answer
Look into "Time Block Management" as an effective way to help balance your life. This is an important skill to master early to have a successful career too! It essentially means you're calendaring out your week to make sure you're focusing WELL on one thing at a time, rather than multitasking and doing a little bit of various things. When you do focus on that task at hand, during it's given time, give it your full attention!
I recommend really using your calendar. Whether you use a physical planner, or your google calendar, etc. find a way to consolidate your whole life! Write out the tasks you have each week & prioritize them before going about scheduling them into time slots. Make sure to schedule in time for yourself to maintain that healthy lifestyle - grocery shopping, working out, meditation, spending time with friends, FREE TIME! etc.
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Matthew Naser
Matthew’s Answer
Make sure that you set aside time after class, but, before it gets too late in order to do some work and day to day studying. Do not cram everything into one short period of time because it WILL stress you out. Make sure that you are setting aside time for meals and relaxing time in order to keep your mind free and available. One thing I found extremely helpful is always having either and Outlook calendar or a paper planner with all of my events for the week including schoolwork, work, studying, and key events in order to keep myself organized.
Lastly, don't forget to be yourself. college is going to be a new experience and it will take some time to get used to. Make sure that you are saving yourself time through the week (I used Friday and Saturday) to meet new people and hang out with them. Although you are at school, there is so much more there to keep your mind active than just stressing about your work. Stay organized and busy with all facets of your tie and you should do perfectly fine!!
José Padrón
José’s Answer
There are always some more complicated subjects, it is good to study them with someone who masters them, or in a group. Do not let accumulate assignments unnecessarily. Try to borrow, notebooks, notes, guides, prototype exams and any material from someone who has already seen the subjects you have to study. Organize yourself and plan the study hours you must have each day. Performs an extracurricular activity, preferably a sport that demands discipline and oxygenates your brain. Try to sleep no less than 7 hours and no more than 9 hours a day, proper rest is very important to have energy and be mentally clear.
I hope it's useful !!!
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