This semester, I found myself way overcommitted in terms of activities. After the winter activities fair, I ended up being involved in clubs and an internship, on top of an already packed academic schedule and work. Now, nearing the end of the semester, I can say I’ve done a pretty good job of keeping it all balanced. These are my tips so you can do the same.
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The most important thing to do is prioritize. Which responsibilities are the most important to you? For me, school is always my top priority, so I would focus on my homework and academic responsibilities before tackling anything to do with clubs. In order to do this, I made sure to block time off in my schedule specifically for studying. On Sunday nights I always did school work for at least a few hours. This allowed me to get all my work done without distractions, so I would be freer to do my extracurriculars during the week.
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The next critical piece of advice is to plan. I love my bullet journal and use it all the time. Through planning my days, I was able to lay out everything I needed to get done and do it all efficiently. For me, making bullet journal spreads was also a way of being creative, and was a great way to unwind and feel less stressed out. Personally, I would recommend writing down all the important due dates of assignments at the beginning of the semester so you can get a head start on those projects if you know you’ll be busy around the time they’re due.
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Finally, the most important advice I can give is to take care of yourself. You are allowed to say no to things. Communicate with people if you are feeling overwhelmed or like you’re drowning in work. Be sure to make time every single day to do something you enjoy, even if it’s just rewatching an episode of Parks and Rec for the fifth time while you eat at the dining hall. Ultimately, you are in control of your own schedule, and you shouldn’t feel guilty about quitting an activity that brings you no joy or that is stressing you out more than anything else. College should be a time of exploration, fun, and growth, not a time to dread.
I’m glad I did a lot this semester because I was able to learn what I like and don’t like. Next semester I’m going to use this knowledge to focus on just a few activities that I know I love.
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