Campus life can be quite noisy. “By that, I mean there are many things and activities, both important and unimportant ones, that are calling for your attention, so you will need to create balance to ensure personal effectiveness, well-being, and productivity.
If you are always stressed, tired, unmotivated, and feeling constantly pressured, that could be a pointer to the fact that you need balance.
Having a balanced life while in school is well worth it, and it is a great skill that will help you not just in school but all through your journey in life. Check out ways you can achieve that below:
Be Organized and Plan ahead
Planning ahead puts you in control. And helps you determine what needs to be done, when it is to be done, and how it should be done. That way, it is easier to
handle surprises that may tend to throw us off balance. You can schedule your next day’s activities the night before or make a to-do list of important activities for the next day. For instance, That way, you will be able to take away distractions and make your day less cluttered and more productive.
Set your Priorities Right
One of the critical steps you can take to create balance in your life as a student is being able to define what matters or is important to you, creating boundaries, and saying no to what is not necessary at a particular time. You are not in school to do everything. The primary reason is to study. So that should be the first priority. This is not to say that you should not engage in other activities that are important to you. But they should not get in the way of your study or lecture time, except in peculiar situations.
Take it one Step at a time
Understand that you cannot do everything at the same time. Learn to take small steps. Big goals should be broken into tiny bits so they don’t seem overwhelming. When you give yourself too much to do, you will likely end up doing less and still looking stressed. Busyness is not necessarily productive. Most of the things you want to get done may not be possible in one day. So learn to take it one step at a time.
Avoid Extremes
Don’t become so addicted to anything (especially social media) at the expense of
other needful things. Anything taken to the extreme can be damaging. That includes even your study. Balance it up. Be sure to assign recreation time and rest time for yourself. This will keep you refreshed and more efficient. Take time to engage in social activities and other interests that matter to you.
Control Your Emotions and Stay positive
Entertaining negative emotions can disrupt and distort your day. You can either control your emotions or let them control you, and when you allow your emotions to control you, you will likely lose your cool. To keep your emotions in check, you need to be positive, realistic, and objective. The truth is that things may not always happen the way you want them to. Staying positive will help you interpret and respond to situations the right way.
Manage Procrastination
Sometimes we all tend to procrastinate, but there’s a way to do it wisely. If you don’t feel like doing a particular task or activity at a specific moment, try doing another task that you still need to complete. For instance, if you’re not in the mood to read, you can accomplish something else that is still important on your schedule instead of wasting time on something that is neither important nor valuable. In essence, do not use procrastination to delay or put off things that are important and need to be done sooner rather than later. By doing things ahead of time or on time, you’ll avoid the stress and worry that come with rushing to finish at the last minute.
Ask for support
As a student trying to do well in school while juggling academic activities and other responsibilities, one important thing you can do is ask for help when you need it. If you’re struggling with a school assignment, a subject, or even non-academic stuff like going to get groceries, etc., don’t hesitate to reach out to a friend, a coursemate, or anyone else you know who can help out in that regard. Getting extra help when you need it can save you time, giving you more time for other activities.