by Warren O. Brennan

Created on: July 29, 2009   Last Updated: July 30, 2009

A relationship during your college years presents a number of challenges. It goes without saying that, without proper time management, these woes can manifest themselves and become detrimental to your studies. Here are some tips that will hopefully get you through the stressful school months and at the same time maintain a healthy relationship.

Communication

This is key to any successful relationship, but is pivotal for ones where you each have a full work load. The biggest problem that most college relationships have is when one member of the relationship has more time available than the other. This can lead to the less busy person feeling left out when their significant other is busy with their studies. The more involved person may begin to see the other as an annoyance and a counter to academic achievement. Communicate with each other! Make sure your partner knows you care about them, but that studies have to come first. Talk over what you have to do and make them realize what your schedule is like at the time. If you are feeling left out, say something. Schedule a date night when you are both free and agree to leave the schoolwork behind.

Dorm living

Living on a campus with someone you're dating can be tough since it may seem like you are never alone. You want your space, but they want to hang out 24/7. While spending time together is naturally a part of a functioning relationship, there is such a thing as too much contact. To cure this problem, set up a schedule. Not a strict one of course, since relationships shouldn't be too regimented, but agreeing on some times during the day when you can relax together, along with some times when you plan to be apart to take care of some school work, can be extremely beneficial.

Classes together

While some recommend steering away taking classes with someone you're dating, I would advise the opposite. Taking a class with someone you are romantically involved with can provide you with an automatic study partner as well as some good conversation on the subject matter. You will have to be careful though, since this can develop into a distraction. The standard to live by should be to do your studying or assignments on your own and then review them with your boyfriend or girlfriend. This ensures that you will be spending the correct amount of time on your studies, while providing you with an extra person to run ideas across before you have to submit anything for a grade.

Disagreement

College is a time where you do a lot of thinking. You begin to develop views on politics and a general outlook on how you see the world. This can be prone to disagreement with friends as well as your boyfriend or girlfriend. Debate is good in these situations, however you need to be conscious when they have gone too far. On particularly contentious issues it is best to leave them alone after you have exhausted debate. Relationships can end quickly if one member begins to feel inferior because you disagree with them on a given issue or simply just don't know how to let something go. I realize that you may be an opinionated person but if you want to maintain a relationship with someone you care about you may be better off finding another sparring partner.

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