As a college student, I have a super busy schedule. Sometimes it can be overwhelming trying to balance all of my obligations, but I’ve found that striking this balance is one of the true secrets to success. Finding this balance is always a work in progress, and I’m far from perfect when it comes to keeping harmony in my life. But in my college journey so far, I’ve found that balancing your life is so important.
“Life is a balance between holding on and letting go.” -Rumi
thirteenthoughts.com
The balance I’m talking about means a lot more than just balancing out your schedule. This spans across all aspects of life from work to relationships to emotional well-being. These are a few of the things I’ve learned that help me find my balance.
1. Plan It Out
The first step I take is always planning out my schedule. I absolutely SWEAR by my planner. Every week I write down my meetings, work shifts, and other events. I also keep a running to-do list of all of the assignments I need to complete as well as other important things that need to get done.
I truly believe that all college students — and crazy busy people in general — should keep a planner. I prefer writing things out in a physical planner, but there are plenty of digital options if that works better for you. A nice bonus is customizing your planner to fit your own style! The bottom line is that a planner allows you to organize all your obligations in one place, so you don’t have to worry about overbooking yourself or (if you’re like me) forgetting important stuff.
2. Make Time for What You Want
When you have a busy schedule, it’s easy to feel like you have to be on the go and working all the time. It sounds like a productive way to get things done, but it’ll throw off your balance and cause you to feel burnt out. Remember that it’s completely okay to take some time off. Give yourself the opportunity to do the things that make you happy! Maybe that means going out with friends, taking that dance class you’ve been wanting to try, or just sitting at home shamelessly binge-watching a new show.
Never feel guilty for taking time for yourself. This will help you stay centered in life and feel refreshed when it’s time to get back on the grind. After all, there is so much more to life than working and studying.
3. Be Kind to Yourself
If you want balance in your life, you first have to find balance inside yourself. Think about it — how can you focus on work when you’re too exhausted to think or too stressed to be motivated? Both mental and physical health are the building blocks to living a balanced life.
After a long day of work, you deserve a reward! Take a moment to reflect on the work you did and be proud of yourself for what you accomplished, instead of wishing you did more or worrying about what tomorrow will bring. The attitude you have towards yourself directly reflects on your attitude towards the rest of your life.
Make sure you’re giving yourself the time you need to take care of your needs. When you’re super tired from working hard, allow yourself time to get the rest you need to get back to it tomorrow. It sounds silly, but remember to eat! Putting good things into your body will help you get good out, too.
There’s no perfect formula to finding balance because every individual is different. Just never forget that your top priority is your own health and happiness. When you’re in touch with yourself, everything else will start to balance out.
-Lauryn
Lauryn Starke 