By Mary Claire Walker
Happy April honors students! I cannot believe we are already to this point in the school year. This year has been a great time for growth, adjustment, and strength through the challenges of being online and not getting the typical educational experience we all are accustomed to. Personally, that has been a great opportunity for me to reflect and find ways to make the most of my experience as a student. The year has also challenged me to find ways to maximize my time as a student, and with that, learn how to manage my time and stress to keep life enjoyable while being busy. I am definitely the type of student to load myself up and take advantage of as many opportunities that I can. I do this so when I leave the University of Arkansas (in one year, yikes!), I can know I gave my community everything I had to help leave it better than I found it.
As a junior honors biology student on the pre-medical track, my life looks a little hectic, and trust me, it definitely can be. For perspective, this semester I am in twelve hours of classes, studying for the MCAT, volunteering every week, starting the groundwork for my honors thesis, holding various leadership roles on campus, and trying to start getting organized for the medical school application cycle that opens in May. To be honest, I feel as busy as it sounds. But of course, those are only the things you see on my resume. On top of all that, I still need to make time to be a good friend, a supportive family member, invest in my religion, and take care of my own mental and physical health.
Sometimes it feels impossible to balance all of these aspects of my life. I have definitely done a lot of work to figure out how to fit it all in and make time for relaxation and fun along the way. It is no easy task, but trust me when I say it is possible to find a balance during college! It just takes some mindfulness, self-awareness, and confidence in yourself to know you can accomplish everything on the to-do list while keeping yourself happy and healthy! Here are some specific ways that I have found helpful in achieving those goals.
Set Boundaries
First things first, you will need to set some boundaries. This year has taught me how to pour myself into all of my responsibilities proportionally and safely. When I say safely, I mean in a way that I don’t overload myself and burn myself out. I set boundaries with myself and the people in my life and the organizations that I am responsible for. These boundaries allow me to carve out time each day to take care of myself or spend time with friends.
Make a Plan
Utilizing a planner, Apple calendar, Google calendar, etc. has been one of my first steps to making sure I get that time organized. I schedule out my day to show myself when I am busy with class or meetings and when I have free hours to get work done. This is a great way to do de-clutter the stress you have when you have so much to do that you can’t think straight. Besides using Apple calendar to see my daily schedule, I use my school planner to make my list of homework assignments and other work I need to complete in a day. It is a great way for me to sit down in the morning and see where I need to be when, and what I need to do in the hours that I have free.
Schedule Your Breaks
I make sure to factor in an hour in the middle of each day to work out, take a break with friends, or just do something other than work. This ensures I am not just staring at my screens all day, and it is a great way to remind myself that I am more than just a student! In addition to a midday break, I give myself a timeline of when I should start working and when I should finish. I typically start my work-day early and end it around dinner time, like a job. Compartmentalizing when I should work and when I should let myself relax is the greatest way that I have found to not let school and stress take over my mind!
And then Break the Rules if you Need To
Of course there are weeks here and there when I don’t comply with my usual schedule. If I have tons of tests or a major assignment, you might see me breaking my own rules. Giving yourself permission to do what’s necessary to get ready for a test or a paper is okay too! But always keep in mind that these long days or late nights are the exception–not the rule.
If you learn anything from this, it’s that you are more than a student. You are more than a volunteer. You are more than a researcher. You are more than a scholar. At the end of the day, we are all humans, and that means that you need rest and need to take opportunities to enjoy being a student in Fayetteville. Hopefully this helps, guides, and inspires you to do everything you love and are driven towards while working to lead a life that you also enjoy! Finish strong everyone, you can do this!
