When it comes being a college student, even if you are part-time, it is time consuming. You are in class actively listening, then have your homework and study time to add into that equation outside of class time. The further along you get into your academic career, the more time you spend on your classes to get the grades that you so desire. But what about campus activities? Or your Greek organization? Or if you have a job? Or what about attempting a social life or getting sleep? College is demanding in all respects, and there are both positives and negatives to this kind of lifestyle.
Pro: this helps you stay organized. By being involved in many different activities in college, you cannot afford to not be organized. You have multiple schedules to incorporate into your calendar, and if you don't have this skill, you most certainly pick up on it in college. Being organized and thorough is a skill that will stay with you long after college, so it's better now to learn how to time manage your life.
Con: your sleep schedule may be messed up. You may have heard the phrase before that 'you can sleep when you're dead.' But in order to stay on top of your game, you need to get a healthy amount of sleep. Sleep is your body's way of relaxing and decompressing from the day's events. Your sleep schedule becomes jeopardized when you have that difficult exam the next day and you have to cram study or you just want to have a night out with your friends. If you don't get enough sleep, you definitely feel it the next day. So, even it seems like something that only kids do, learn how to take a powernap. If you do, you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go!
Pro: it looks great on a résumé. One of the perks of continuously being on your toes is that it looks great to future employers! It makes you stand out as an application because this shows that you went above and beyond what was expected of a normal student in a college atmosphere. Staying busy reflects time management and commitment to anyone who does a read-through of your résumé.
Con: this is a somewhat stressful lifestyle. Being consistently busy makes you have very little down or free time in between your plans in your schedule. This, in turn, can be both physically and mentally draining. You can feel burnt out or overloaded by always being preoccupied. Being busy is stressful, and it's good to know that ahead of time! Yet, think of how great you will feel once you get everything done and have a lengthy break. It may be stressful, but it is well worth it in the end.
College can be the most exciting time of your life, but it can also be the most stressful time of your life. There are both pros and cons that illustrate why being busy is both a blessing and a curse. College is learning how to find a balance, and once you do that, you will find that you are set for anything else that life could throw at you.
