With a new school year comes many responsibilities, wants, and needs that you may not have had to worry about over the summer. Gone are the days of lounging until you had to go to work or spending all day on the beach.

Trying to balance all aspects of life is hard, especially as a college student. Trying to maintain a social life, get good grades in all of your classes, work at an on campus/off campus job, volunteer, and participate in clubs and organizations on campus is overwhelming, and at times, can seem impossible. That is where time management comes in.

It's ironic that I'm writing on this considering I am probably the worst at managing my time. There were many times my freshman year where I would consciously choose to not do my work so that I could go hang out with my friends. Most of those times I would have such a fun time hanging out with my friends, but there would always be a little voice in the back of my head that would stop me from having the most fun I could because I knew I should be doing my work. This would lead to me doing homework into all hours of the night, almost never getting enough sleep, and not being happy with what I was prioritizing. The thing is, it's not easy, but it's worth it.

Even as I sit here writing this article, I've checked my phone at least ten times. All I'm doing is scrolling through Instagram and Twitter, but that time adds up. It's important to prioritize what needs to be done because, once those things have been completed, such as homework and work, then all your other free time can be spent doing the things you want to do, such as hanging out with friends or endlessly scrolling through any and all social media sites.

My advice is if you're trying to get work done turn off your phone, that way it won't be a distraction. Try to go to a quiet place where you'll be able to concentrate. Work in time increments so that you don't get frustrated or bored, but stick to them. Set goals for yourself and focus on the task at hand, instead of worrying about all of the other things you have to do.

My mom always says, "Do the things you need to do, so you can do the things you want to do." She's been saying this my whole life and I tend to just brush it off and do what I want anyway, but, as I get older, it has really become a motto that I know I should live my life by. Whether or not I do is a whole different story. But, for now. I'll just take things one day at a time and try to live my life the way I know I should.