You have overbooked your time to the point where every minute of your day is scheduled and there’s no time left for yourself. That’s a problem.
I’ve always been responsible, independent, driven, and crazy ambitious. But in college, when you’re essentially on your own, you have to learn to manage those traits. You have to be your own boss.
I think what I am learning with time is that I am always really hard on myself and I set the bar (sometimes a little too) high.
I also realize that more often than not I tend to spread myself thin. This semester alone I am taking eighteen credits and I am involved in four student organizations. I am really driven and ambitious but I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed and overworked.
Here are my top 10 tips if you are feeling the same and want to find balance in your life:
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You’re not going to love every homework assignment but do your best to find ways to connect to the material so that you enjoy doing it more.
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Don’t put something off until the day before it’s due. Try to prioritize your work by deadlines.
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Anticipate the extra time you may need to do certain assignments because sometimes an assignment may be more time consuming than you originally thought.
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Start assignments as soon as you’re assigned them regardless of whether they are smaller or larger projects because trust me, it will save you the stress later on.
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During your breaks in between classes, go to a lounge or library and do homework instead of going to your dorm.
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Every assignment does not have to be perfect. I really care a lot about the quality of work that I am producing and I usually don’t like to turn it in until I feel it is the most perfect reflection of myself and my work ethic. Over the past semester, I have learned that it’s okay if every assignment isn’t perfect, just do your best with the time given and turn it in by the deadline.
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Play music or Netflix when you are working on smaller assignments. Play natural sounds like rain, crackling fire, instrumental music, or white noise while you are studying because I’ve found it helps me concentrate better.
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Don’t stay cooped up in your dorm or the same study area. Something I have found that helps me focus better is going outside to study. For instance, at ASU the places that I like to study outside at are the Shade Garden on the Downtown campus and the garden by the student services building on the Tempe Campus. If you don’t have outdoor spots like this on your campus, try going on Youtube and playing natural sounds such as rain falling, a crackling campfire or other noises because it also gives off that same feeling of being outdoors and helps you to concentrate better .
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You don’t have to say yes to everything. When you are involved in student organizations you have to find a balance between your course workload and your club involvement . So my personal advice is to contribute as much as you can without putting your grades on the back burner.
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Lastly, don’t forget to find time for yourself. Although grades are important, your mental and physical health are as well. Every so often try to take a break or treat yourself, even if it’s as simple as seeing a movie or grabbing something to eat at one of your favorite restaurants.
My last tip is the one that I would like to emphasize the most because it’s the one that most people forget. I know because I personally forget and will put my work and assignments before my own sleep and health. There was one week last semester when I was extremely busy to the point where I pulled two all-nighters in a row. I fell asleep in the middle of an assignment and was passed out until 3 pm the next day. When I woke up, I had missed all of my classes and it was the worst feeling ever.
These experiences are why I now understand that I am a work in progress. Something that I personally want to work on during this semester is to find time for myself.
If you are in the same boat as me, my advice is that you should analyze your schedule and see if there’s a way you can find a balance between your studies, life, social life, and extracurricular involvement. Whether it’s a small change or larger changes, do what works best for you and will help you the most to not feel overwhelmed, overworked, and spread too thin.