The Balancing Act: School, a Social Life, and Enough Sleep

We've all seen the figure floating around the internet: "good grades, enough sleep, and a social life: choose two."  It's no secret that achieving these things as a student is tough, to say the least, but can you really not have all three?  

You can – just keep these five things at the top of your new to-do list.

Organize your time.  

Remember the planners your teachers in elementary school gave everyone?  It's time for another.  Prioritize and set aside designated time for studying, work, spending time with friends – anything you fill your days with.  Be disciplined, because when your days are more structured, it's a lot easier to make the most out of the time you've set aside.  At first, it may be tough to focus on one thing at a time, but scheduling and using your time effectively will make tasks feel much more manageable when you don't have everything weighing on you at once.

De-stress.  

Not only is it incredibly difficult, but it's also pointless to work on something when you're on the verge of a meltdown before you've even started.  This is how you get distracted and start to procrastinate – so before tackling the first thing on your to-do list, take a moment to relax, whether it's by doing yoga, taking a bubble bath, or taking a short nap.  Then you can reconvene with renewed energy and focus.

Say no.  

It's great to be involved, but you can quickly find yourself in over your head.  Don't let FOMO get the best of you.  It all goes back to prioritizing what's most important to you.

Ask for help.  

You can't do everything yourself, and that's okay.  In school, you have a village of people around you that are there to help – teachers, counselors, and of course, your friends.  There will be days when you're overwhelmed or feeling down, and the important thing is that you reach out to someone.  I know it can be hard to ask for help, but you don't have to take on everything alone.

Most importantly, be kind to yourself.  

For some, it may be easier said than done, but you have to learn how to not be so hard on yourself.  Skipping a night out with friends, taking an afternoon off from studying, or missing a club meeting isn't the end of the world. Don't be afraid to let others know when you need a little R&R .  While stress can be motivating in small doses, your well-being should always come first.