Going to college is famously one of the best experiences of your life. Studying and hanging out with people your own age who are interested in the things you are is powerful. You are definitely going to love it.
However, you may easily find yourself overwhelmed by schoolwork and all the stuff you’re involved in outside of the classroom. Striking a healthy school/life balance is about getting the good grades you know you’re capable of earning and still meeting people and having a good time during your college years.
Here are six ways to do school-life balance right.
EXERCISE.
Working out isn’t a chore or a punishment. Learn that now and fully embrace fitness as a necessary part of your emotional and physical well-being. Exercise has been shown again and again to relieve stress and improve all your vitals. Develop the habit now, and you’ll find yourself sleeping better, paying better attention, and overall getting the most out of your time and effort. Every college has a fitness center. So it’s free!
Take a break from your dorm.
Study in the library, at a coffeeshop, or at Washington Park. Changing up your scene will help keep your mind fresh, too. Again, achieving the perfect school-life balance is all about perfecting the economy of time. Don’t waste your study time screwing around on the internet, and you’ll have more time to hang out and have fun. The best way to keep yourself alert is to make yourself comfy and happy as you study.
Write stuff down.
This one seems obvious, but it can be too easy to just keep everything circling around in your brain. Your to-do list might be written on four sheets of paper, and you’re too scared to write everything down in one place because facing all that work is scary. Take a deep breath and just do it. Write down all of your tasks and keep a calendar. Organization helps with that time-economy thing and also gives your nerves a break. Maybe it’s a “sticky note” on your desktop or maybe it’s a paper journal you carry everywhere.
Give up when you need to.
If you feel like you’ve taken on too much, it might be because you’ve just taken on too much. If you’re overcommitted to clubs or events, back off a bit. If you need to just take a break for a day, take a break.
Ask for help.
Your professors, advisors, and counselors are all there to support you. If you’re falling behind or struggling with the material, the most important thing to do is tell someone. Ghosting or giving up will only add to your stress, and there’s almost always something that can be done to fix the problem.
Know your resources.
Call on your friends when you need them. Know where your support systems are. And know where to go on campus to feel safe, supported, and encouraged. Once you’ve got that figured out, the rest sort of handles itself.
Want to hear about Saint Rose’s support systems? Schedule a visit!
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