Due to the rising costs of education, college students need to have part-time jobs, or even full-time, in some cases, more than ever. This can cause many problems, as people tend to feel overwhelmed when they have too much on their plate. For example, a couple of weeks ago I was very stressed, due to the fact that I would have to somehow balance all of my classes, two jobs, and writing and editing for Her Campus. However, now that I’ve had time to process everything, I’ve found ways to keep everything organized, finished in time, and have managed to sneak in some time for myself. For this reason, I’ve compiled a list of tips that might be helpful when trying to balance work, university, and extracurricular activities.
- Keep a Schedule.
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This prioritizes organization and it will help you keep your short and long term goals in check, so that you can avoid missing deadlines or taking more tasks than you can handle at once. A lot of people prefer to use an online calendar, but I’ve found that keeping a weekly and monthly schedule on paper works best for me. In my monthly schedule, I’m able to write down important events that will happen a few weeks from then; like event dates, exam dates, important assignment deadlines, holidays, etc. Overall, it’s just general important dates that would not work in a weekly schedule. My weekly schedule is the place where I can write down more immediate and specific tasks. These include: homework due that week, my work schedule, an exam that week, deadlines for Her Campus articles, an HC meeting, etc. I made my own schedules and printed them out, you can find them here for reference.
- Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
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It’s important to remember that one person can only do so much. For this reason, you shouldn’t take on more tasks than you can handle at one time. For example, if you have an exam and an essay due on the same day, don’t tell your boss you can work an extra shift the night before. While extra money may be a good thing, it’ll cost you more in the long run because missing an important exam or essay will impact your grade. The same thing would happen if you are in a position of leadership in a student organization and you’re not following the compromise you made with the other organizations you’re in. Don’t join four more organizations with intense requirements that you cannot meet because this will only cause more harm. Besides this, taking on more tasks than you can handle will not even leave you with enough time to sleep properly.
- Communicate.
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When you have so much responsibility, communication is key. Communicate with your boss, professors, co-workers, peers, and friends. Tell your boss the days and shifts you’ll be able to work since the beginning and, hopefully, you’ll be able to work something out. Some bosses can be a little difficult, but stay constantly communicating with them; tell them with anticipation that you need a day off or that you won’t be able to make it to work that day. This basic principle also applies to your professors; if you feel like you cannot meet a deadline, talk to them and explain the situation. Often, they’ll work something out with you because any good professor is there to work with their students, not harm them. In addition, communicate with your peers in a student organization if you cannot meet a deadline, attend a meeting, or an event. It’s important to let everyone around you know in advance, so that you don’t feel too overwhelmed.
- Take some time for yourself.
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Juggling so many responsibilities at once can sometimes make us forget that it’s important to take some time off and relax. Spend some time with yourself, catch up on that show you’ve been wanting to watch, go out with your friends. Taking time off helps you keep in touch with yourself and it helps deal with all the stress brought upon by all your responsibilities.
- Remember your long-term goals.
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When you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember that things that pay off in the long-run require hard work and sacrifice. It’s okay to feel down at times, but keep a great support system around you that can help you get through those hard times and focus on your goals.
The most important thing is balance. Don’t let one aspect of your life overshadow the other to the point where you neglect one of your responsibilities; therefore, affecting the balance. Hopefully these few tips will help you deal with all the stress that comes from life, university, work, and extracurricular activities.