Learning how to balance your academic and social life is crucial! Do you find yourself struggling to manage your time in college? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Even though I have only completed one semester so far, I have managed to receive a 4.0 GPA, participate in two extra-curricular activities, and still have friends and a social life. The key is to find a balance and to familiarize yourself with your brain, body, and its needs and wants. I hope these tips help you to manage your life and achieve your goals!
I know that if your professor assigns a project that is due three weeks later, that you’re initial response is “I will do it later” or “I have time.” Although those mindsets may seem appropriate at the time, you never know when a once in a lifetime opportunity or experience may arise. If you wait until the last minute to do an assignment and then find out that your favorite artist is having a concert the night before it is due, you may regret wasting your time watching Netflix when you could have been regularly working on your project so that you could attend the concert.
I know that in college it seems like everyone may be isolated, but that doesn’t mean you have to be. I always feel better and less stressed when I spend time with my friends, even if it is just to share a meal. Eating meals with your friends is not only beneficial for your mental health by allowing you to vent or express your thoughts to people, but allows you to add to your social life as you interact with people make future plans to hang out outside of school.
Even though the last thing most people want to do in addition to their academic work is workout and get sweaty, it comes with a lot of benefits. I make sure to workout for at least 30 minutes 3 or more times a week. By working out, whether that means cardio, strength training, etc, you are increasing the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain causing your cognitive abilities to improve. You may notice that if you workout regularly that your concentration may improve and that you can spend less time studying than in the past, and allot more time to participate in leisurely activities. Most people feel better about themselves and their bodies after a good workout, so if you workout, you may feel more motivated to leave your room and hang out with friends!
Becoming familiar with your brain and your body is extremely important in order to attain balance in your life. For example, I know that if I study or work hard on an assignment for weeks that I deserve a break to do something for myself like attend a concert or go out to dinner with my friends. Over the years, I have also found that if I do something leisurely the day before an exam, that I often end up doing well on the exam instead of the opposite, which is what most people might think. I think that is because if your brain does not have a balance between work and leisure that it will be stressed causing it to malfunction. You do not want that to happen so be sure to recognize when you’ve had enough!
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