As a college freshman or sophomore, it is difficult to find the place you belong. Discovering which activities to dedicate your time to can be tricky, as there are so many to choose from. There are hundreds of things to do on campus, and there is often this impression that as a student you have to be a part of multiple clubs, have a part time job, an internship lined up for the summer, some leadership experience, and be socially active. This leaves no time for actual school, sleep, or any other healthy behaviors. Often times, students find themselves being pulled in too many directions and succumbing to overwhelming stress. The truth is, there is not such thing as a “perfect student” that participates in everything mentioned above, although we sometimes feel otherwise at Northwestern. We have a busy culture and instead of focusing on one or two things that we are truly interested in, students tend to stretch themselves too thin in fear of not being as prepared for the future as others. As you go into your winter quarter, reducing your commitments, or simply finding your space in the community, will help you manage your stress levels and simplify your experience. So, here are four things you can do to make sure you are taking care of yourself while this winter quarter:
1. Cut down on your commitments
The first thing to identify is if your schedule is productive or harmful to your wellbeing and performance. Doing as many things as possible is not always the best decision, as is doing nothing at all. Finding a happy medium can be difficult, but essential. If you feel stressed about your commitments and overall college experience on a daily basis, the best thing to do is cut some out. This seems obvious, but it is in fact very difficult. Choosing extra activities because you think they will look good on a resume or apply to your major is not always the best way to determine how to spend your time. Doing activities that you do not feel passionate about can increase your stress because they will take up large chunks of time and seem to give you no pleasure. There is no need to be a part of seven different clubs, and finding a few that apply to your future and most importantly, excite you, is essential. If you are part of too many things, you will have less time to dedicate to each activity and will be unable to give the necessary effort that each will require.
2. Prioritize your schedule
The second thing to do once you recognize your overwhelming over commitment is to set priorities for yourself. You know what is most important to you and your future and what must get done. As a student, you can prioritize social activities over school and homework, but once you get your grades back that might just increase the stress. There are certain activities that have clear priority over others and cannot be cut out, but you must re-assess your interests and desires to fill in the rest of your schedule rationally.
3. Find a balance that works for you
The next thing that you have to do is figure out a way to keep your life in balance. Make sure to not take on too many commitments or too few. Remember that although there is a negative stigma around saying no or quitting, you are still allowed to do both of these things. You are allowed to say no and you are allowed to quit, and doing so does not mean anything negative about you. If you can pursue your own wellbeing over taking on too many activities, then you have the necessary strength and respect for yourself that you deserve.
4. Take time for yourself
Finally, you must remember to take time for yourself. Not everything is about your future or school. You must create time to be with friends, read a book, go out to dinner, or just sit in your room and watch Netflix. If you don’t take time for yourself to relax and recoup, you will undoubtedly increase your stress and be unable to handle your overbooked schedule. Take a deep breath and and write all of your responsibilities down. The only way to do great things is by taking one step at a time.