When I first came to college, I never knew how absolutely CRAZY my life would be. I love the shock and confusion of others as I tell them all I’m involved with as they simply can’t fathom how I’m able to handle it all. Not only am I graduating a year early, but I’m also the Campus Correspondent for Her Campus Ohio U, the Publicist Chair for The Society of Professional Journalists Ohio University chapter, and work on campus as a Resident Assistant. How do I keep it all together while also getting good grades? By faking it! Here are 5 tips that help me look as if I’m keeping everything rolling smoothly:
- Have multiple calendars
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This will sound weird but I use multiple calendars. I use one calendar for everything class-related, such as due dates. I then have a nice full planner that I put everything from meetings and work to daily activities like when I get to go home. This helps me stay organized and assists in making sure everything stays straight. I will also put my class schedule and any meeting times in my Microsoft Office Calendar to remind me throughout the day what I have going on.
- Make time to be alone
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As someone who is an introvert, I don’t get energy from other people but from being alone. While I am surrounded by people all day from classes to meetings, it’s important to set time to be alone. You might be an extrovert but setting time aside allows you to grow as a person individually and you’ll also learn a thing or two about yourself in the process making you a better leader.
- Surround yourself with positive people
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Allowing yourself to be friends with negative or toxic people is only going to bring you down. While it can be hard to completely cut friends out, you have to begin to drift away and start surrounding yourself with positive people that want the best for you and will lift you up.
- Have “adult” days
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Schedule days to clean where you live, organize your desk, or to simply catch-up on doing your dirty dishes and laundry. Having a day to reset not only looks HELLA adult to those around you but will help you get ready for whatever assignment or meeting you have in the future.
- Respect yourself
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Knowing my limits when it comes to my grades and activities helps me respect myself as a student. There are going to be days and nights that classes and meetings will seem endless, but I know that a weekend is within reach. If I begin to approach my limit, I reach out to those around me so they know if I’m missing a meeting or skip a normal meal or activity with friends they know that I needed that break to myself.