If you are like me, you understand that having a busy schedule—classes, teaching, meetings, a boyfriend, family, and many friends—means that balancing and prioritizing your time is essential. Despite having a hectic schedule, I have broken time down into what psychologists call the Seven Types of Time.
To keep it simple, ask yourself: Do I get some physical, focus, connecting, play, down, in, and sleep time every day?
1. Physical Time
Are you providing your body with enough physical time throughout the week? If you want exercise to be a priority in your life, just remember that humans thrive off of exercise. If none of your time is taken by exercise, I suggest fitting it into your schedule.
Although I no longer play a school sport (I played field hockey and softball in high school), I still make time to work out, do intramurals, attend Zumba and Pilates classes, and play sports with friends in college.
2. Focus Time
Do you take the time to focus on school work or to concentrate in class? Maybe this is where an enormous amount of your time is spent. Just remember that in order for your brain to focus, you must implement breaks. The other six types of time are crucial for enabling you to relax and release endorphins in order for you to maintain your focus. Maybe you are an individual who does not put enough effort into focusing on school work; make it important. You did not attend college only for the fun, although college is very fun!
Even playing sports falls under focus time, which is why sports help students increase their attention spans. I have trouble focusing, for I often space out, yet I make the time to get my work done around my busy schedule. Homework comes first.
3. Connecting Time
In college, connections will be the one thing that stick with you for the rest of your lives. Connections will change who you are as a person and will alter your perception of life. They enable you to grow in ways you never believed were possible. Make sure you continue to meet new people, even if you already have your core group of friends. Take the time to keep up with your family and your life at home.
You may juggle with trying to find time for various friend groups, but do not stress. Those who want you in their lives will let you know and will reach out to you, as well. Friendships are easiest when people meet each other halfway. I struggle with balancing my time between international friends, my core group of friends, friends that I barely keep in touch with from freshman year, friends from home, and my family. Although it is already difficult to find time for everyone, I continue to reach out to others; you can never have too many friends, and you never want to lose an opportunity to meet new people if you solely hang out with your core friend group.
4. Play Time
Never forget to play. You may be a college student, but that does not mean that you have lost your inner kid. Play sports; compete for fun. Especially if you played sports in high school and no longer do in college, it is good to still satisfy your competitive side. Play some board or card games and play with ferocity; play to win! Let out your wild side.
5. Down Time
When you finally get back to your room from classes and meetings, just sit on your bed and relax. It is acceptable to go on your phone at this time or listen to music. Just chill. Maybe even watch TV. You owe it to yourself. Sundays are a good day for this. Sit back, relax, eat snacks, and watch some football!
6. Time In
This does not mean spend time inside the house. Rather, Time In is referring to taking the time to think inwardly. Maybe fantasize, space out, reflect on your day, daydream. This may happen naturally throughout the day, even during classes. Try to take some time during Down Time to zone out to kill two birds with one stone.
7. Sleep Time
After you have put so much energy into the first six categories of time, never neglect the last one: sleep. It fuels your energy to get you through the first six aspects of time. If there is one thing to prioritize, first get a good night’s sleep, then you can juggle where to spend the remainder of your time once you have had some rest. You may be the type of person to sleep in, but oversleeping does not benefit you. Try to get seven to eight hours of sleep at night, and attempt to get into a routine where you fall asleep and wake up around the same time each night and morning.
If you are like me, then you do not get enough sleep and prioritize everything from school work to socializing oversleep…all I can say is good luck to you. I am just kidding. Maybe you will learn, maybe you won’t but you sure remember how nice it feels to get a good night’s sleep after having a crappy sleep. Just really try; do it for yourself.
So decide where you want to spend the majority of your time amongst these seven types of time. You may value some of these categories more than others. What is most important is that you are feeling satisfied in the areas where your time is being spent. For instance, do not spend your time on activities or people who do not make you happy or successful.
Do a little check-in each week: Did I spend my time this week doing the things that I wanted to do? Did I spend my time wisely? Did I spend at least a little bit of time on each of the seven kinds of time?
