University leaders often stress that being involved in a wide variety of clubs, organizations, and activities is key to building a full resume for future employers to be amazed by. We all probably know someone juggling their major with a second major, a professional track, and a plethora of clubs. Some clubs, granted, are purely get-together fun. Most, on the other hand, require a much higher level of commitment and work outside of your class time.
We all probably know of an overachiever like this but often fail to recognize that most of us put the same amount of pressure on ourselves. Whether you’re an art history student or an engineering major on a pre-med school track who gets their sleep when the professor turns their back, you’re probably very busy and have plenty of academic and club loyalties you choose to adhere to.
So, what allows us to be able to handle this? How can we possibly fill our schedules with that many activities, along with four to five classes, without being in danger of “burning out”? Last semester, I had absolutely no idea how to manage my time. I would tell the above-and-beyond people not to burn out because I didn’t know how to keep my head above the water at points. Winter break was a huge learning experience for me in terms of what I want to be involved in the second semester, whether in terms of classes or healthy ways to relax my body and my mind.
I live in Warren, so I don’t have to walk far to get to class, but getting some kind of exercise is super important! Working out gives me a boost of energy and a sense of productivity, so I’ll usually try to head to FitRec early in the morning to be able to start my day off right. And absolutely destroying yourself at the gym is not necessary! Just work as hard as you want to or feel comfortable with, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself to compare yourself to how fast the person next to you is running or how much weight they are lifting.
Learn to be okay with saying “no.” Practice makes perfect for this, but being able to say no to events is an extremely important skill to learn. Unfortunately, your schedule isn’t going to permit time for absolutely everything you’re interested in. An easy way to get overwhelmed and overworked is to try to fit everything into said schedule. This ties into priorities. Decide some of the main activities you’re interested in and then prioritize those. Out of all of the clubs you’re interested in, which do you love the most? Which do you feel like you could give the majority of your time and feel rewarded at the end of it? Of course, try to be involved in a number of clubs instead of just giving all you want to one club, but decide which one reigns supreme because you can’t give the same level of energy to absolutely everything.
While this isn’t a complete list of things to do in order to keep a healthy mind and body while also being involved in everything you’re interested in, it certainly is a start to a healthier mindset. Remember, whatever works for you, works for you. There may be some tips you have that I didn’t include, so keep following whatever has been benefiting you in the past!
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