How do you find time between schoolwork, actual work and a social life?
I'm not particularly rich... I'm most definitely getting a job to start making money when I get to college. But homework and studying sounds rough. How do you make friends in between that? Will I get the chance to join any clubs or will I be locked up in my dorm either doing homework or, I don't know, waitressing? I know people have done it before. How do you stay sane? How do you do it?? #stressed
2 answers
Alicia’s Answer
Staying sane is a lifelong pursuit. It is important to find balance in all of these areas. Personally, I am actually currently working toward a degree and work full-time, so I understand your stress. I have found that creating to-do lists and prioritizing works for me. By prioritizing, I mean planning around prescheduled events. For example, if I know I have a social activity on a Sunday, and my assignment is due Monday morning at 9am est, I will plan to work on my assignment on a Wednesday evening after work.
I use calendar reminders for appointments, and plan my week at beginning of week to have an idea of what it will look like. If you have an interest in clubs, then join them, but choose which ones matter most to you and focus on those. I had one semester in college when I was on a few committees and was in a few clubs, had multiple meetings a week, and it became too overwhelming. So be sure not to burn yourself out.
Another thing you can do is combine the 2. Make time to study with groups of friends who are in the same classes. That can be social and productive at the same time and you can learn from each other.
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
You will need to manage your time. In order to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>