The ideas expressed in this column do not necessarily represent those of The New Courier.

Juggling Academia & Chaos

by Joshua Jones
November 9, 2023

Balancing personal life and school is easy for no one, and for pampered college students away from home, this can be very formidable. Entering college and having to juggle school, clubs, finances, personal relationships, and sports in a unique environment can all be difficult. Not to mention having to focus on your own health and well-being can be forgotten, which can lead to even more issues on your plate.

Creating a balance is often looked at as harder than it seems, but in times of stress over a big project due, a balance of work is even more imperative. Not having balance puts more stress on a person than you would think. A 2023 study with a poll of over 2400 participants at a college shows that 66% experienced emotional stress related to work overloads and considered dropping out. This evidence is only a mere representation of what most people in college are experiencing daily, but more importantly highlights the fact of having a good schedule balance relates to better mental health in college students.

Having your stress in check is imperative to having a good college experience. Compared to when I first came to GCC to now, I was extremely anxious knowing school was the very next day and led me to feeling unprepared for college in general. Now with one month left to the semester, I am much more confident than I was, which allowed me to finally enjoy college. That same confidence, which came from me having a rough start showed me that having no grip on your stress can lead to several things like a bad college experience and even health issues. On the other hand, getting that balance and achieving that confidence starts with managing stress.

Managing stress can come in a few ways like yoga, meditation, exercise, and seven to eight hours of sleep. But it doesn’t stop there, as a student with priorities you need to learn when to say no to distractions such as friends and family. Time management is often overlooked by students because it’s the most obvious and it is all on that individual’s whim. Some popular techniques for time management you can use are Parkinson’s Law, Rapid Planning Method (RPM), Time-blocking, and Time-boxing.

Conclusively, in navigating the challenges of college life and personal commitments, the key lies in finding harmony. Balancing your academic and personal well-being isn’t a simple task but rather an ongoing journey of self-discovery. By recognizing the significance of time management, self-care, and setting boundaries, you can pave the way for a fulfilling and successful college experience while maintaining a healthy personal life.