College is hard. At just 18 years old, you are forced into a new environment and are meant to choose a career path that will determine the rest of your life. College is meant for studying, but let’s face it, it is also meant for socializing and enjoying yourself as well.
I know it seems as if your academics should be your only focus while at college, but having a social life is equally as important. Reading piles of books and studying for exams is draining. Over time, this can lead to burnout if you don’t give yourself any downtime. On the other side of the spectrum, it can be easy to get so caught up in going out with your friends that you start to neglect your schoolwork. Neither your academics nor your social life should overpower the other because both are essential to your college experience.
Balancing these two things can be hard, but with the right planning, it is very doable. One thing that I found to be helpful is creating a weekly schedule. This is where I write out my class schedule as well as what work I need to get done each day. When creating this schedule, keep in mind important due dates so you will never be put in a position where you have to choose between going out with your friends and cramming for an exam that you forgot about. Having your week planned out will ensure that you will never miss a class deadline while still having time for friends.
After you have a general sense of your responsibilities for the week, it helps to prioritize them. Designate more time to larger assignments so you can put in your best work into those. It’s important to remember that school isn’t everything. There are times when you are burnt out and it isn’t possible or enjoyable for you to dedicate all of your time to every assignment.
Although making sure that all of your assignments are completed, it is so important to take breaks. Designate times for productivity, but also for relaxing and leisure. I tend to devote my weekdays towards getting schoolwork done, so I can have my weekends off to see my friends without having to worry about school. As long as you are putting in your best effort during your designated work periods, you should never feel guilty about giving yourself time off.
There is so much more to school than essays and projects; meeting new people and trying new things is a big part of college as well. As a college student, you should be putting time and effort into your classes, but you should also be putting time and effort into making sure you are enjoying yourself.