Sometimes it feels like you are juggling all of your obligations. The weight of getting everything done really drags your mood, energy level and productivity down. It really is a balancing act when you have a full class schedule, a part time job (or two), plus friends and a significant other fighting for your undivided attention. Time management plays a huge roll in achieving a balanced life filled with work, a social life and school.
Every week has 168 hours in it. Try recording how you spend your hours for a whole week. A good chunk of those hours are spent sleeping. Your in class on average 15-18 hours per week, depending on your class load. Homework and studying varies from week to week but try to record an average week.
When you're adding your hours from work, don't forget about travel time (this goes for driving or walking to campus for class). How many hours a week do you usually spend hanging out or going out with friends? I'm sure it varies from week to week, but again try to find an average. By the end of this exercise, I'm sure you'll be surprised at how many hours you have extra at the end of the week, even though it feels like you are completely booked all week.
A social life is essential for you to stay sane. It's your time to relax, catch up with friends or head out on a date. Time with friends is hardly a waste of time; however, if you feel like hours are slipping through you fingers when you are with your friends, try keeping each "social gathering" to a couple of hours maximum. It's probably better to hangout for two or three hours of quality time than an afternoon or whole day of empty time spent hanging out.
When it comes to homework, make sure you are prioritizing what needs to be done for the next few days instead of getting the homework you enjoy out of the way. Pushing off assignments until the last minute just adds more stress. Blocking out a chunk of two or three hours a couple times a week seems to be the most productive for me. It's the same time each week in my calendar where I know I'm completing school work. Try going a step further and planning what assignments you will work on during that block of time. Then you will have a plan before you even sit down to start.
Depending on your job, talk to your manager to see if can have a say in your scheduled shifts. I work on campus and I like working the opening shift starting at 6am. It ensures that I am up early and I'm done before most people are even waking up. Obviously, this doesn't work for everyone or for every job. It doesn't hurt asking your boss if you can show a preference of the different shifts.
Work, a social life and school can be hard to balance. It's also difficult to stay on the same schedule each week because things do come up out of nowhere. If school and work are your priorities, your friends aren't going to be hurt if you just let them know you don't have as much time to spend with them. If school and friends are your priorities and you aren't desperate for the money, try reducing your hours or give up your job all together. Everyone can handle different amounts of these three categories. To be a good employee, friend and student, you need to find what you are capable of balancing.
