Hello, lovelies! I am writing this early, but at the time you are reading this, my final semester of college has started. I genuinely can’t believe it and I’m sure the post-grad job search anxiety is starting to hit, but let’s not talk about that.
Last year, I wrote a post called 12 Ways To Be A Better Student In 2019. You all obviously loved that post since it quickly rose up to be one of the most popular posts on this blog. Instead of just adding onto that, I decided to discuss something else. Balance as a college student. We’re always trying to do better in class and boost our GPAs, but it’s usually at the expense of our well-being. That’s why this year, I want to talk about 12 ways to be a more balanced student in 2020. Work-school-life balance is something Americans are notoriously bad at. I’ve learned that focusing only on school is a quick road to burnout, which is why I’ve compiled the list below. I hope you enjoy!
Related – How To Prevent College Burnout | Motivation, Productivity, Self-Care, Etc
1.//Schedule Fun Between School & Work
The first step to finding balance is to organize your schedule. There are tasks we have to do at set times each day like going to class and going to work. It’s up to us to fill the rest of our schedule in a way that helps us. Don’t attempt to squeeze every ounce of productivity out of each minute. Schedule time for fun and rest. Make time for things that you enjoy and will help you love life.
2.//Don’t Skip Meals
I am not super guilty of this, but I do tend to delay meals when I’m focused on other tasks. I end up eating lunch or dinner an hour or two after I should because I’m so immersed in my schoolwork or have something to study for. I can understand how some people can accidentally skip meals altogether when their minds and time are occupied with something else. Try not to forget to eat three meals a day.
Related – 12 Healthy Habits Worth Starting In College
3.//Go Outside
I’m always super lethargic when I stay in for multiple days in a row. I’m always reminded of how energized I feel after going outdoors when I walk to my car, which encourages me to go outside more often. There are so many nice outdoor places on campus to study or read. I need to remind myself to spend time outside because it helps my mental health.
(I’ve definitely been experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder these past few days because it’s been so rainy and gets dark early. Even the few times I went outside in the cold helped me feel better.)
4.//Exercise
This is hard to implement but will make the biggest difference. I’ve learned that working out has a much bigger impact on my mental health than my physical health, which is why I try to prioritize it. I don’t work out much during school breaks, so I’ve been feeling kind of out of it past few days (I’m halfway through my winter break as I write this). It’s a reminder that exercise helps me sleep better and eases my anxiety, which is motivating me to get back to working out regularly when the new year starts. I wasn’t a person who exercised before college, but there has been a massive shift since I started going to the gym. Trust me. It’s hard but worth it.
Related – A Practical Guide To Working Out Regularly In College
5.//Get Enough Sleep
I’ve mentioned this many times before, and I’ll mention this again. I can’t function properly without sleep. I go about my day like a zombie when I get less than 6 hours. Strive to go to bed and wake up at a consistent time. This will help you sleep enough. I go to bed at around midnight and wake up at eight. This ensures that I get enough sleep every day. I’ve learned in the past that I would rather turn in something late than sacrifice sleep because that’s something that impacts me immensely, and I’d rather get a lower grade than create more stress for myself.
Related – 9 Evening Habits Worth Starting In College
6.//Make Regular Plans With Friends
Talking to friends face to face is important. There’s only so much you can get across through text messages, and when I don’t see friends for an extended period of time, my mood shifts. I do need my alone time, but my days are so much better when I spend intentional time with a friend. That’s why I always make plans during the week. It gives my friends and I a time to chill in between schoolwork and studying.
7.//Join A Non-Academic Club
I think this helps create a separation between academics and hobbies. Sometimes, we can get so consumed in school that we forget to pursue things we find fun. Joining a non-academic club can help. You’d be surprised how specific some clubs can be, so take advantage of the dance, sports, and photography clubs you have access to while you have them. It’s harder to pursue hobbies after you graduate.
8.//Journal
I’ve only really started journaling these past few months, and it’s made such a huge difference in how I feel and how I process things. I journal significantly less when I’m happy or have a full schedule. I do journal about fun things that happened and what I’m grateful for, but I also ruminate on things that are bothering me. Whenever I was overwhelmed or stressed, journaling helped me organize my swirling thoughts and helped me legitimize the anxiety I was feeling. I personally prefer to talk those things through with a close friend, but sometimes, I’m alone and writing in my journal does the same job. I really enjoy writing and it’s a calming task to just write out my feelings on paper, the good and the bad.
9.//Give Yourself Permission To Take A Day Off
When I entered into my Freshman year of college, I didn’t understand why people would skip class. It was a waste of money and hurt you academically depending on how often you did it. I definitely understand now. Don’t skip class super frequently. There was a guy in my seminar class last semester who only showed up twice, and this was a discussion-based class. 45% of our grade was based on participation. He never dropped the class, so my professor had to fail him. Don’t take it that far. but if it’s possible for you to catch up on the lecture and you won’t lose attendance points, it’s okay to give yourself a break once or twice.
Make sure to pick a good day to do this. Finish all your homework the day before and choose a week where you don’t have any more tests to take a mental health day. It’s alright to spend one day doing nothing without guilt.
Related – How To Take Intentional Breaks In College
10.//Eat Comfort Food Without Guilt
I don’t think eating should be an all-or-nothing act. There is a way to be healthy in moderation. I am not a nutritionist or doctor. I’m just talking about living a balanced life in college. In my experience, being obsessive about anything, in general, doesn’t lead to great results, neither does overindulgence. Eat healthy foods, but don’t guilt yourself for overeating things that taste good but aren’t necessarily healthy. Enjoy it.
11.//Keep Your Room Clean
There is a major difference in how I feel when I room is clean. I can’t get any work done when my bed isn’t made or the dishes aren’t washed because it reflects how I’m feeling. Outer order equals inner calm. When your surroundings are clean and organized, you feel more relaxed. That’s why people get more work done at coffee shops or in the library. Those places are clean and organized. It motivates your brain to get things done whether that’s doing homework or reading a book.
12.//Be Present
For me, the quickest way for time to pass by is when I’m scrolling through Pinterest or watching YouTube videos. Thankfully, I’ve gotten good at not binge-watching T.V. shows, but I’ve still got my vices. As Ferris Bueller famously said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” For me, this means putting down my phone and not wearing headphones when I’m talking to someone. I also used to have a really bad habit of looking at my phone while playing a movie on the T.V. It got to the point where I wasn’t paying attention to the movie. It was just background noise. I started putting my phone across the room or somewhere else in order to be present at that moment. That’s an example of an action step you can take for many different aspects in life. Be present in the moments you’re in whether that’s looking out the window during a bus ride or feeling your body as you dance. It’ll make an amazing difference.
Well, that’s it for now. This list honestly seems kind of random. There isn’t a true defining factor to balance other than the fact that it includes the managing of different things. I hope this helps you have an awesome semester. I’ll see you next time!
Related – How To Prevent College Burnout | Motivation, Productivity, Self-Care, Etc
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What are some of your tips for being a “balanced” student?