College: The Great Balancing Act

With school picking up, learning how to balance your life is an essential skill

by CHELSEA DEBROT ★ OCTOBER 28, 2019

With an insane amount of pressure coming from all aspects of life: social, academic, work (the list goes on), it’s easy to place unnecessary expectations on yourself. The danger in this is that it can offset the balance in your life, which is essential to a healthy mental and physical state. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of our best tips on how to implement daily habits so you can make the most of your time here at Syracuse.

School:
Practice trial and error for when and where you work best, and take advantage of those times and places. There’s nothing worse than sitting down to do work and ending up wasting time because you can’t get in the zone. Do you get your best ideas flowing in a coffee shop, or in the solitude of your room? Do you work well late into the night, or are you a morning person? 

Try out different studying spots on campus to test it out! The obvious places to go are Bird and Carnegie. But if you’re looking to change up the scenery, try the Starbucks on West Campus. The environment there is much more chilled than the Starbucks on Marshall Street and makes for a better studying atmosphere. Some hidden gem study spots are the penthouse in Lawrinson, the law building, and the study lounge in Haven. They are spacious, quiet, and the views from Lawrinson and Haven are beautiful.

Once you find your go to spot, carve out time during the week to dedicate to studying at your optimal studying times when you know you’ll be productive. 

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Work:

Working as a student is totally doable; you just have to manage your time. Schedule your shifts strategically. If you know you have a class across campus, factor in the time it takes to make it there on time when telling your boss when you can work. If you can, schedule work before or after classes, so you don’t have to squeeze it in between classes. And if you do have a shift later at night, get your studying done before. That way, when you get back to your dorm you can enjoy some down time knowing you finished all your homework.

Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to balancing work and school is that communication is key. Your employer knows you’re a college student (if they don’t, tell them!), and understands the demands you face and commitment of school. Give your boss a heads up when midterms are coming up or if you know you have a busy week ahead. Maybe they can accommodate some hours to make things easier on you. If you are a hard worker and show your dedication to the job during your shifts, it’s unlikely they’ll have a problem with that.

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Health:

Working out and eating to fuel your body does wonders for your health, but again, balance in this area is essential. Eat your greens and move your body, but don’t spend too much time looking to others and comparing your habits to theirs. 

If you want to stick to a workout routine, you have to make sure you are doing something you love. There is no point in committing to running on the treadmill five days a week if you hate running. Find what works for you. The Barnes Center offers a ton of workout classes, ranging from pilates, barre, and yoga, to hit and strength classes. Grab a friend and see what fits your style best. If you can only make it to the gym a few times a week, go when you can and don’t beat yourself up if you have to cut it short because of school or work.

Eat nutritious foods that make you feel good, but at the same time, don’t cut out food groups that make you happy (carbs are not the devil) just because you’re putting too much pressure to look a certain way.

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Social:

This is a tricky one because it’s so easy to have FOMO when your besties are going out every night from Thursday to Saturday. But, take a step back. How much are you really missing if you stay in one night to do some work, or even just catch up on sleep? Make time to be with your friends, but also make time to decompress for yourself.

Or maybe you’re the girl who stays in and studies even though your friends are begging you to let loose for one night. Listen to them! As important as academics are, life doesn’t stop when you are in school. You deserve to have fun and release some stress and pressure. Find a restaurant, get dressed all cute, have a mini photoshoot with your friends, and clear the night to have fun with your friends. Your books won’t miss you if you ditch them, but your friends definitely will.

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If you take anything from this, take it as permission to not be too hard on yourself. You won’t get anything done when you’re trying to measure up to unrealistic expectations. Mental clarity is such an important aspect of well being, and as much as the hustle culture is hyped up, it leaves no room for you to breathe. 

Be kind to yourself. Know your limits, and set goals within your means. You’ll end up getting a lot more done that way, trust me.