Just this week, I kept hearing a phrase creep into way too many of my conversations with friends. This haunting phrase was, “I just don’t have time.” For any college student, these five words typically occur throughout our daily routines. We wake up, go to class, go to practice, go to clubs, go eat, go socialize with friends, and then go to sleep. We are constantly on “the go.” Obviously, we fit other responsibilities in between academics and meals, but believing that we “don’t have enough time” often results in fewer calls to family, and fewer check-ins with our mental states. However, we all must make time for personal reflection and phone calls to our loved ones. I know that we (aka college students) are all in the same boat, so I asked fellow classmates how they find time to function as students, athletes, artists, and (most importantly) caring human beings. Here are a few favorites:
Dayna Vasconcelos, ’19 : “Go for a run. Or spend a lot time in Commons. The most important thing to do for balance is just making time for friends.”
Dylan Davis, ’19: “I listen to music. I hang out with friends. Tennis helps. Sometimes that gets too stressful too, but I make time for sleep. Sleeping is massive for the sanity of Dylan Davis”
Brendan Mackey ‘19: “The gym is a good option. I live in the library, so I probably don’t have too much advice to give, but working out is definitely a good way to relieve stress.”
Sara Buscher, ‘19: “I don’t always find balance. It’s all about allotting time to do certain things and making a schedule. Write everything down. I would definitely have to highlight the balance piece because sometimes we get super caught up in academics, but it’s super important to be social and enjoy your time in college. You’re not necessarily going to remember a certain assignment, but you’ll remember the memories you make. So, it’s all about balancing. When you work… do what’s best for your work style. Make the most of your time to study.”
Hopefully, after reading a few of these heartwarming pieces of advice, we all can learn something. If you take a deep breath, learn what balance means to you, and surround yourself with friends, you’ll realize we all have time to prioritize the things we care about most.