By: Victoria Boyne
As we all return back to in-person classes, it is impossible not to recognize the common juggling act that many students are facing. This is the act of balancing a full course load with extracurricular activities, jobs, family commitments, social life, and self-care. Unfortunately, many students are unable to balance their commitments and thus some are forgotten about. If this is a problem that affects you, don’t worry. Below we will explain how to stay organized and balance all of your commitments!
1. Use a calendar! This is such a small habit to adopt that can make a world of difference as you try to plan out your time. This can be an agenda, a desk calendar, or my personal favorite calendar apps such as Google Calendar. Regardless of the medium, adopting a calendar system that will work for you will allow you to plan out your classes, extracurriculars, homework time, etc., and thus leave you with ample time to complete your day-to-day tasks.
2. Put your electronics away! This is a skill that I still struggle to adopt. The amount of time that we, as a society, unknowingly spend on our phones is insane and could likely be more efficiently spent. For example, aimlessly scrolling through Tik Tok and Instagram before bed not only takes away our beloved sleep but also makes it harder for us to wind down after a busy day. Furthermore, having your phone next to you as you study and do homework is a known distraction that I, and many others, struggle with. Taking the time to disconnect from electronics and focus on work, friends, and family could be a really valuable change to focus on as we get deeper into the semester!
3. Find a good study space! This is different for everyone, but I truly believe that a good study spot can make all the difference in your productivity when completing your work. Personally, I love working in the Breakout rooms in Isenberg, the top floors of the library, and any coffee shop. But recommend trying new study spaces until you find the best working environment for you, this is likely somewhere that is free of distractions!
4. Take good notes! This is so important as we begin to adjust back to in-person learning and can save you so much time when you need to go back and study. Prioritizing notes not only allows you to stay focused in class but also helps tremendously when searching for content, as you will no longer have to search through lengthy PowerPoints for formulas and simple concepts.
5. Create study groups! This allows you to meet so many new people in your classes and be social while also giving you an outlet to ask questions. This can be extremely beneficial when studying for a test or in classes that have a focus group assignments.
One last tip is, don’t be too hard on yourself! It is okay to take breaks, miss events to focus on yourself, or do poorly on an assignment here and there. Though we all want to do everything perfectly, that is not always attainable and that is okay! Remember that you are not alone and so many other students are struggling to balance everything.