The typical college student has a lot on their plate: classwork, extracurriculars, jobs, a busy social life, keeping healthy habits, and much more. Most days it can feel like a delicate balancing act to make sure everything is getting enough attention and nothing falls through the cracks. I'm a very open-minded person and love seeing where unexpected and unplanned adventures take me. That being said, coasting through life day to day has led me into some sticky situations that might have been avoided had I kept to a routine.

Now I don't want to give the wrong impression that it's bad to follow through with spur-of-the-moment decisions. In fact, it can be very beneficial for your mood and overall mental health to act on those last minute ideas. Take a break from the monotony of three-hour lectures and cramming for exams to do something for you. Don't shame yourself into thinking that skipping one evening class to see your favorite band indicates poor academic choices or lack of caring. Acting on those impulses can be a good thing, but acting on them all the time just isn't sustainable.

Often the concept of following a routine has a bad reputation. A routine has the connotation of being boring, repetitive, and uninspiring. While in some contexts this may be true, routines have many good associations as well. Planning and organizing ahead saves so much stress and hassle later on. Though it may seem tedious at the moment, running through dates and events ensures important deadlines don't get overlooked and clears your mind to focus on other things rather than keeping an unreliable mental timeline. Dedicating parts of your day to a specific activity provides stability and comfort. Even the littlest habits can have a bigger impact than you might expect. Having a clear understanding of what to do at a given moment can do a lot for your productivity.

Just as acting on those out-of-the-blue thoughts can be therapeutic, so can keeping a routine. The former provides you with new and different experiences to expand your mind, while the latter helps to calm down and focus. Repeated activities can help you reach a somewhat meditative state which is beneficial for a number of reasons. Humans are naturally inclined to recognize, and often favor, order. This is precisely the reason why we develop habits like hair twirling and whistling. It calms us. Integrating crucial aspects of our everyday lives- regarding schoolwork, social obligations, errands, and the like- into a steady routine makes them less daunting, and therefore more achievable.

Aside from the perks of meeting new people, gaining independence, and earning your degree, being a college student includes some daunting responsibilities. Having those off-hand, genuine experiences is a must, but if you want to stay afloat, so is maintaining a level of consistency. Following a routine is one of the best ways to be sure you're living up to your full potential as a student.