Balancing Work & Play

Welcome back! The past 2 weeks I have been getting back into the groove of school and planning out my semester. If you're like me, you're probably starting to get a little overwhelmed with all of these new syllabi and assignments. When it comes to balancing school work, jobs, extracurriculars, and free time, it can sometimes be a little much at first. Don't worry! I am some great tips to keep you on top of your game and not too stressed during the semester.

1. Keep a Planner.

This one is the most simple, and most people do it, but it is the most important! Whether you have a planner book or an app on your phone, it is important to stay on top of your responsibilities through timelines and calendars. At the start of each week, I sit down with my planner and fill in my schedule with my classes, meetings, and work. I then go in and schedule when I will be going to the gym each day and when I will do homework. Personally, when I have written down all of my responsibilities, I am much more likely to do them right away than if I were to type up a to-do list on my phone. Physically crossing something off of a list is so much more satisfying!

2. Keep a to-do list.

Along with my planner, I use an app called Wunderlist. This app is great because it syncs from your computer to your phone, so the same list is on both devices. I typically have a school list and a grocery list, but you can keep more than 2 on the app. You can set due dates on each action item and you will receive an email or an alert when the item is due soon. This is where I put assignments and long term reminders. This app is really amazing and if you're someone who needs help getting organized, I highly recommend it!.

3. Don't Wait Until the Last Minute.

This is where people start to get so stressed out! If you wait until the last minute to complete an assignment, you will be overwhelmed. It is best to discipline yourself and do an assignment as soon as you get it. In high school, most assignments were due the next day, so you had to do them the same day you received it. However, in college, professors will assign something and give you a week until it is due. This is great if you have a very busy schedule that day, but not so great for procrastinators. My best advice is to sit down and get as much work done as possible so you can take some things off your to-do list. One of the best feelings is finishing an assignment days before it is due.

4. Understanding that School Comes First.

I think we have all been in a situation with trade-offs. Should I go out to dinner with my friends or should I study for a test I have tomorrow? The trade-offs are skipping out on time with friends or losing study time for a test. If you're anything like me, you have FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and it is hard to say no to group plans. However, sometimes you have to put your foot down and do that extra studying.

5. Prioritize Your Tasks.

This last tip falls under the to-do list category, but it big enough to be its own. When making your to-do lists, there are definitely things that fall higher on the list than others. This could be an assignment due at 11:59 p.m. or a paper you need to start now in order to go to office hours in a few days. Prioritizing certain tasks will be helpful when you have a large list of to-dos and begin to feel overwhelmed. Sometimes, I will put small tasks, like laundry, to use as fillers when I get too stressed out. Give yourself an hour to work on that paper, then do your laundry as a study break. Understanding what needs to happen first so you aren't stressed out will help you stay calm and your tasks seem more achievable.

I hope these tips help you in your new semester!