Balancing School and a Personal Life

Bex Rizo (She/Her)

Editorial Team Member

Going into a new school year can be tough. There is something stressful about it. Whether it is taking tests or how much time it takes up, for a lot of people it can feel daunting and become an all-consuming activity. Although I can say with certainty I enjoyed my academic school year last year; it did get to a point where I had little time for anything else.

This year, I have realized the importance of creating time for other hobbies that do not involve school. Being aware and even cautious of grades and assignments is definitely not a bad thing. However, it can get to be an unhealthy obsession if it is all you focus on. Although it may seem impossible to take that time if you have a lot going on, it is definitely worth it in the long run. A few simple things that I find helpful is time-management and organization. Believe it or not, organizing your day and staying on task can make all the difference. Of course, changing your whole life-style is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, they say it takes at least a few weeks to completely break bad habits (for some, even more than this), but setting up goals is the first place to start. 

Starting off on the right foot is essential! Make sure you know what it is you want out of the year. Do you want to make new friends? Join more clubs? Play a sport? Etc… knowing what you want is the first step, but after you determine that, you can build a plan. For example, if my goal is to have time for myself to relax, I have to create a time and place to do that. If I am also the kind of person who can’t relax if my work isn’t done, I will make sure that what I need to do is done prior to my alone time. After this step, the next few are simple: etching out time in your calendar, and trying to follow the times you set up.

It’s stressful to juggle so much during the school year while still having time to yourself, but it is important. After all, our work reflects our mental state. Just because you are able to skate-by while being stressed does not mean you should. Take a step back and take a break. The work will still be there when you are refreshed and a single bad grade is not the end of the world.