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A Busy Person’s Guide to Fitting College into Life
If you’re preparing to head to college, you may feel as though you’re expected to make your education the be-all and end-all of your life for the next few years. However, the fact is that you will no longer be in compulsory education. Yes, your degree is important and will set you up for a great career, but everyone has his or her own priorities and you shouldn’t be expected to turn your life upside down for anyone or anything. Whether you have a demanding job, loved ones to care for or a demanding pastime or hobby, here are some tips on how to succeed at college with an already full life.
Practice Good Time Management
This may sound obvious but - just like with a financial budget - many people who are tight on time don’t realize all the minor ways in which they are wasting this vital resource. We recommend writing out a firm schedule, factoring in lectures and group sessions, independent study, work, cooking and eating, socializing and relaxation. If you know when you can next have a break, you’re less likely to procrastinate in the interim and instead aim for that window of time, making you more productive during your other activities.
Make Requests and Ask for Help
Don’t try to soldier on if things are getting hard. Try to find out what resources are available for your use. For example, if you’re trying to raise a young family while studying, is there a crèche or any other childcare facilities you could use to give yourself a break and to enable you to attend lectures? If you are a post grad and you’re struggling financially, why not take out private student loans to ease the burden? The funding will help to make your life much easier. If your job is demanding too much of you during term time, have you considered asking to change your hours?
Asking your manager this question in a polite, straightforward and unemotional manner may see them agree to switch things around to accommodate your routine a little better. At the end of the day, if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Get Enough Rest
A sense of stress and a feeling that you never have enough time often stems from a lack of sleep or downtime. Going to bed late will exhaust you and make your pace slower and your decision-making skills sloppy. It will also make you less willing to get up and get started early. Listen to your body and schedule breaks at the times that feel best. If a deadline is pressing, try not to cut back on sleep in order to stay on top of things. A clear routine with a set bedtime and periods blocked out for “me time” will aid your concentration.
Make Friends and Take Up Hobbies
With all the pressure of a college course, you need to be able to let off steam every once in a while. Socializing, playing sport or doing something creative does not equate to slacking off. These activities allow your brain a little bit of time off to absorb what you have been learning. It can also help you to learn new skills, keep your networking abilities up to scratch and flush away any stress that has been building. The connections you make outside of your studies can also form a valuable support group for when times get rough. Just be sure to keep that work/life
balance healthy and don’t let yourself fall behind your peers.
If you’re preparing to head to college, you may feel as though you’re expected to make your education the be-all and end-all of your life for the next few years. However, the fact is that you will no longer be in compulsory education. Yes, your degree is important and will set you up for a great career, but everyone has his or her own priorities and you shouldn’t be expected to turn your life upside down for anyone or anything. Whether you have a demanding job, loved ones to care for or a demanding pastime or hobby, here are some tips on how to succeed at college with an already full life.
Practice Good Time Management
This may sound obvious but - just like with a financial budget - many people who are tight on time don’t realize all the minor ways in which they are wasting this vital resource. We recommend writing out a firm schedule, factoring in lectures and group sessions, independent study, work, cooking and eating, socializing and relaxation. If you know when you can next have a break, you’re less likely to procrastinate in the interim and instead aim for that window of time, making you more productive during your other activities.
Make Requests and Ask for Help
Don’t try to soldier on if things are getting hard. Try to find out what resources are available for your use. For example, if you’re trying to raise a young family while studying, is there a crèche or any other childcare facilities you could use to give yourself a break and to enable you to attend lectures? If you are a post grad and you’re struggling financially, why not take out private student loans to ease the burden? The funding will help to make your life much easier. If your job is demanding too much of you during term time, have you considered asking to change your hours?
Asking your manager this question in a polite, straightforward and unemotional manner may see them agree to switch things around to accommodate your routine a little better. At the end of the day, if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
Get Enough Rest
A sense of stress and a feeling that you never have enough time often stems from a lack of sleep or downtime. Going to bed late will exhaust you and make your pace slower and your decision-making skills sloppy. It will also make you less willing to get up and get started early. Listen to your body and schedule breaks at the times that feel best. If a deadline is pressing, try not to cut back on sleep in order to stay on top of things. A clear routine with a set bedtime and periods blocked out for “me time” will aid your concentration.
Make Friends and Take Up Hobbies
With all the pressure of a college course, you need to be able to let off steam every once in a while. Socializing, playing sport or doing something creative does not equate to slacking off. These activities allow your brain a little bit of time off to absorb what you have been learning. It can also help you to learn new skills, keep your networking abilities up to scratch and flush away any stress that has been building. The connections you make outside of your studies can also form a valuable support group for when times get rough. Just be sure to keep that work/life
balance healthy and don’t let yourself fall behind your peers.