Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Work/Life Balance for College Students

Time management is a recurring theme on this blog.  Why?  Because in my years of teaching, this is the number one issue I see college students struggle with, and this is something I continue to struggle with in my professional career. 

What makes time management so challenging?  I think this is a personal question, and the answers to it are many and varied.  But one thing is true for everyone – determining how much time to devote to academic pursuits and personal interests is a constant struggle.  Demands on a student’s time vary from week to week, and even day to day.

How should a college student deal with this balancing act?  One key to the puzzle is planning ahead.   Remember that calendar that you use to keep track of all your quizzes, exams, papers, and projects?  Keep up with it!  Add new assignments as they are given and review the calendar on a regular basis so you know when a tough week is coming your way.  When those difficult weeks do come up, you can be mentally prepared to deal with them.

You should also try to work ahead of schedule when possible.  Have you been given a project that is due next month?  Why not start collecting research now?  What about that mid-term exam that is headed your way?  If you begin studying now, you will be able to study smaller sections, which are easier to digest, and have more time to familiarize yourself with exam material (more on this next week).

Have you been able to designate time for homework each day?  If so, have you stuck to your schedule?  Your life as a student is comparable to the life you will lead as a full time employee, so why not start the 9 to 5 routine  (or 8 to 6 or whatever works best for you) now?  The more committed you are to your schedule, the more time you will be able to free up for personal interests.

Which brings me to my next point.  No college student can devote all hours of the day to study.  Having a personal life is a necessary part of student success.  Hence the need for balance.  Time management helps you to achieve that all important balance.  Once you have put in your study hours for the day, you should (on most days) be able to set aside your work so you can have dinner with friends, work out, veg in front of the T.V., and forget your school worries and stress for a few hours.  

The work/life balancing act is even more complicated for those students who are responsible to their family or have busy work schedules outside of their school schedules.  For those of you in this situation, your downtime will be significantly less than the student who only has to worry about school.  You may have less time available to study and may even have to put off certain school activities in favor of spending time with a spouse or children or holding down the job that helps to pay your school tuition. 

But the general principle is still the same – you need a life outside of school to be successful in school.  Be sure to reserve some time in your day for the personal activities that make you happy and whole.  You’ll be a better, happier, and more fulfilled student as a result

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