Is it possible to have good grades, awesome friends, a job, go to parties, bond with family and keep your sanity?
College means a whole new level of independence, but it also means a whole lot of responsibility. So is there a way to juggle all of the things going on your life?
Of course there is! The key is to prioritize. No human would be able to handle all of these commitments at once, so realize that some thngs will have to take a back burner sometimes. You don't have to take on everything at once.
To get good grades, you have to put the effort in. In some cases, you can skate by, but studying and taking that extra Friday night to finish your paper will benefit you in the long run. NOBODY goes to EVERY party EVERY weekend...and if they say that they do, they're lying. Now that FOMO (fear of missing out) has plagued our thoughts via social media posts, it feels like everyone is always having fun somewhere, but chances are most kinds are staying in a few times a year (shocking, I know) to get that A they need. Don't lose sight of why we're really at school: to go to school.
Now, I'm not saying you need to miss out while your friends have all the fun. In fact, that's exactly what you shouldn't do. You just need to know which night to stay in and which nights to go out. So when you do decide to go out, have FUN. Don't worry about other stuff going on; this is your time to forget your troubles and be college kid. You won't feel like you actually had fun if all you can think about is your test in 3 weeks. Keeping your social life alive will also keep you in touch with your friends-- the people who will support you through all of your hard work, but know when you need a break.
Now that our two main responsibilities are covered, we forget about our parents (yeah, those people who raised us until we were 18). If you live far away from home, it can be hard to fill them in on everything going on, so even just a five minute phone call would mean the world to them. You should make an effort to talk to them more than that, but trust me; they will appreciate the fact that you made the effort.
They also might feel more inclined to drop some extra bills in your bank account. But if not, having a job is a great way to keep the cash flowing. While you're at school, having a part-time job or a job where you can sign up for hours are the best options because you can adjust your work schedule based on how busy your week is.
When your weeks aren't too busy, remember to treat your body to a workout or a good night of sleep. With all of the activities going on, it's okay to say no! You'll feel so much better after a good trip to the gym or a nap. Keeping your body in tip-top condition is so important so you don't get sick, which is unbelievably easy in college. Coming down with something can put your life on hold, which is the last thing you need.
Remember: we are young. We have our entire lives to have a dream career and earn a PhD. When you do have down time, take advantage of it. Take this time to enjoy yourself because you'll never get these years back.
