by Jennifer Shipon

Created on: June 29, 2008

Do you ever find yourself experiencing what could generously be termed 'dislike' for fellow college students who seem to have their schedules all figured out? You know the kind; they have a loaded class schedule, work a full or part-time job, and yet still manage to go out at night and know everyone in all of their classes, while being genuinely happy and well-adjusted? You too can learn to juggle the various crushing responsibilities college imposes, while still finding time for yourself to prevent a complete mental breakdown!

Set a Schedule Beforehand

Without a defined time management plan, all the homework, papers, tests, and other obligations college demands can quickly become overwhelming. Make a color-coded Excel spreadsheet of your week, with a different block for each half hour. Include your classes, work, study time, homework, and social events, along with anything else that's a part of your day. Make sure there is at least a half hour block a day left blank. (This may seem like a given, but you'd be surprised how quickly free time gets eaten up in an average collegiate life.) This block is yours, and yours alone. Use it to completely relax and keep up with yourself, whether that entails meditating, reading, listening to your favorite music, calling your best friend in another state, or taking a power nap.

Weigh Your Options

With that being said, no one completely adheres to such a rigid template. The fact of the matter is that opportunities often present themselves at random, some of which you definitely shouldn't pass up. In such cases, it's up to you to determine the more worthwhile course of action. If your favorite band on a world-tour suddenly decides to give an impromptu free performance in the school's gymnasium, maybe missing two hours of studying for that Geology exam tomorrow wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Or maybe it would. Ultimately, it's up to you to weigh the options.

Maintain a Healthy Balance

Don't worry yourself to death over being valedictorian of your college class. Not everyone is cut out to snag a 4.0, and besides, perfect test scores aren't everything. Don't inhibit your social life by studying 24/7, but on the other hand, don't let your schoolwork fall by the wayside in favor of raging parties, either. Strike a balance between all the different competing aspects of your life. The best balance for you is, again, ultimately determined by you, so think it over thoroughly before diving into a type of overly concentrated lifestyle you might not be able to physically and mentally handle.

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