3 Ways To Avoid Overcommitting In College

It's halfway through the semester and you're sailing through your classes, so you decide to take up some extracurriculars and a job because of you're well managed and open schedule. Slowly, you notice your two-hour library trips turning into seven-hour days, you can't pay attention to the customers at work, because you're nose deep in a notebook cramming for tomorrow's COM exam, and extracurriculars stray further and further from priority. Yes, you have a bad case of mid-semester overcommitment, usually defined as the plague among college students but fortunately, you can prevent it.

1. Learn to breathe.

Most student's don't even recognize how much is on their plate until they are contemplating dropping out. While it's easy to get sucked into responsibility after responsibility, it's important to recognize when your weekly planner is just too full. If you've pulled three all-nighters this week, feel like you don't have enough time to take a breath and are surviving on pure caffeine, there's a good chance you're overcommitted and it's time to let something on your schedule go.

2. Learn to say NO.

Usually, college students are labeled as overachievers and multitasking enthusiast and while this might be true in some cases, it's usually the opposite. Most students just want to graduate and go into the field of their choice and the idea of a semester filled with a TO-DO list as long as your textbook, is anything but appealing. So, start to learn to say "no" to the fifth extra shift your boss is asking you to take, that event your club asked you to manage and tutoring your friend in economics. If it's something that desperately needs to get done, refer them to a friend or someone reliable for help.

3. Learn your limits.

Last semester might have seemed like a breeze, but every semester is different. So, if you're going to sign up for an extra class, a job, and a sports team or to hold a position in your sorority, make sure you can handle it! If you really want to do something, you should go for it, but it won't be any use to you if you can't stay fully dedicated. You'll benefit more preparing for the following term in advance and your next-semester-future-self will thank you for allowing time for naps.