I'm a full time student with a scholarship that requires me to take 15+ hours a semester. I play a NCAA Division II sport. I have two campus jobs, one as a tutor for my college library's writing center, and another as an intern for the PR & Marketing Office on campus. I am an active member of a sorority. I'm also the vice-president of an honor society, a member of my college's honors program which includes required community service, and I write for the Newberry Odyssey. No, this article is not about how to write a resume. This is about how to do it all.
I've always had a pretty high level of involvement in academics and extracurriculars; from middle school onward I played at least one sport, was in several clubs, and took challenging coursework. As a college student, my schedule has only gotten more complicated as the years have gone on. Junior year is my busiest yet, as I've taken on another job and am entering my first sports season as a sorority member. It gets busy, and it gets crazy. Here are my top tips for managing a busy schedule and staying on top of it all.- Write it down.
Whether it's electronic or the newest fancy planner from Lily Pulitzer, you have to have a way of keeping track of your commitments and schedule. Personally, I use a paper planner to write assignments down in class and track upcoming exams, events, and practice, then make a to-do list on my computer desktop with the Notes app. I also use my computer's calendar to enter my classes, practices, job hours, meetings, and all other commitments so I can track exactly how much free time I'll have. Some people prefer a big dry erase board, while others just keep a running list of tasks to complete, but the most important thing is to write it down, and actually refer back to it. - Show your responsibility.
It can be tempting to slip into bad habits when things start to get busy, but it's important to show those around you how seriously you take your commitments. Professors, coaches, and bosses will all take into account your past efforts when deciding how much or how little to help you out with managing things. A professor who has seen how dedicated and attentive you are in class is much more likely to give you an extra day on a big assignment when you need it. A coach who recognizes that you are always on time and focused in practice might let you reschedule your fundraising when you've got a sorority event or job meeting. Establishing what kind of person you are with a good first impression can go a long way in helping you juggle everything further down the line, so make the extra effort now to help yourself out later. - Schedule your sleep time.
Everyone needs to sleep, and everyone functions better with it. Sure, you might have an evening off and decide to binge-watch two seasons of Orange is the New Black till 2am, but you'll probably regret it when you get a huge assignment the next day and have to stay up late to get it done. Take advantage of the breaks you do have to keep yourself healthy and rested, and you'll be able to function better when things do get hectic. It's so difficult to get yourself to be efficient at schoolwork when all you really want to do is close your eyes and drift away to dreamland, so make sure you can stay awake when you need to. - Do it for the right reasons.
If you're not passionate about the activities and classes you're a part of, it'll seem so much more difficult to get yourself to focus and work hard for them. It's important to know why you're doing things, and to do them for yourself. Whether it's knowing you want to get into med school that gets you to Biology, or just wanting to talk to the cute boy in your religion class, find the reason that will get you where you need to go. And if you find that you don't end up caring about an activity, and it doesn't contribute to your goals, don't be afraid to drop it. For example, not going to law school means I don't really need to be in Mock Trial, and frees my time up to work a job in my field of interest. - Treat yo'self.
As Parks and Rec has taught many of us, it's important to reward ourselves for how hard we work. Taking care of myself gets harder the busier I am, but it also becomes much more crucial to keeping myself happy and functioning. Everything from a hot bath after a long volleyball game to curling up with my favorite magazine and a cup of tea can help me recharge and re-energize when I'm constantly moving from task to task. Don't be afraid to take yourself out for a sushi date, put on your comfiest pajamas for a day in, or schedule time to go out with friends to let loose. Balance is all part of the game.
Don't be afraid to take on commitments and get involved this semester, because doing it all is definitely possible with these things in mind. Here's to another awesome, busy semester!
