That title may seem selfish, but it’s true. College is all about juggling and personally I know I tend to forget what my real priorities are in the mix of it all. Work, homework, organizations, a social life, and more work seem to be the typical schedule. There are not enough hours in a day to do it all. Especially when the end of the semester rolls around, there is so much to do and so little time to do it. You are just counting down the days until it is time for break. To help this craziness that occurs throughout the semester, you need to schedule time for yourself. I’ve learned if you don’t write it down or plan for it to happen, it won’t. You may not have as much time as you want or a lot of it, but it is necessary. To relax, catch up on television shows, or lay by the pool, you need time to clear your head of the everyday clutter.
Before the semester starts, make sure you get a planner and some sticky notes to carry with you at all times. This way whenever something comes up or you need to give yourself a reminder, you have your planner or a sticky note with you. This will help you forget things less and stay more organized. Do not just carry it with you, actually use it. I know it can be a pain or you may forget but organization is key in college.
Make a list of your priorities and plan out your days accordingly. School and your health should be at the top of your list. Next would be your job, other activities, and time for yourself, in my opinion. Your body needs to rest and sometimes when you’re so busy you tend to forget to step back and take a moment to breathe. Remember your schedule is not set in stone and you will need to make adjustments to it every week and maybe everyday.
As a semester comes to an end or midterm tests roll around you may become overly stressed and not be able to complete everything on your schedule. Don’t worry too much. It’s your life, you can pick and choose certain things that you are doing and the amount of time you are spending on them. Don’t be afraid to cut back on something or skip that one event you have to catch up on some sleep or finish a paper ahead of time. Your health comes first and keeping yourself rested and relaxed will allow you to complete everything you have to do with more energy.
Sometimes we forget that we do come first and that we have to take care of ourselves before we can complete our responsibilities and help others. College is only new once but new things come up all the time. Remembering to plan and prioritize applies to anyone at any point in your life. Planning will not always go the way you expect and things change. This method also may not work for everyone. You will find what works for you and maybe even have time to catch up on your favorite television shows like American Horror Story or for me Dance Moms.
Who would think a few pages bounded together and a pen could make your life so much easier?
Keep smiling, Amanda
