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Finding a Balance Between All Your Commitments

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Finding a Balance Between All Your Commitments

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Support is one of the tips here that will help me.

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With a schedule of early-morning lectures, cramming in study time between classes, making it to work on time and still finding time for a social life, college students may be feeling the pressure to keep all their plates spinning at the same time.

Many students are working during college to support themselves financially, something experts say is like working two full-time jobs. A U.S. Census report determined that 71% of the nation's 19.7 million college undergraduates were working in 2011 and of that number, one in five undergrads were working at least 35 hours a week year-round.

Students attempting to balance school, work, and family/social obligations should evaluate the commitments in their life and discuss realistic goals with friends and family members to ensure that they will have the support and time needed to maximize their success, recommends Becky Takeda-Tinker, president of Colorado State University-Global Campus.

â€œBeing realistic and understanding what you as an individual need in order to be successful and fully engaged is crucial whether itâ€™s succeeding in school, personal, or professional arenas,â€ she says. â€œEffective time management is a transferable skill that is an important foundation for both academic and professional success.â€

To help students with time management and maintain their sanity, here are four expert tips for establishing a well-balanced system.
Step 1: Create a Calendar
Creating a calendar or schedule forces students to visualize their obligations, whether itâ€™s paper, a dry erase board, or on a smartphone app, says Nicolas Tynes, vice president of programs at Harlem Education Activities Fund (HEAF).

â€œSome people may need a physical calendar and the action of writing on a calendar will help them retain information better, a calendar thatâ€™s in their face that they can look at on a regular ongoing basis,â€ he says.

Being able to see a week or monthâ€™s worth of obligations can also help students manage their time better for larger tasks like big projects and final exams to avoid cramming the night before, adds Takeda-Tinker.

â€œPlacing specific dates and times on their calendar helps to emphasize that school is a priority and commitment and allows for planning ahead--it is also wise to work ahead whenever possible,â€ she says. â€œLife events and emergencies will arise, but staying on top of school work means there will be room to adjust when those things do happen."
Step 2: Know You Have to Prioritize
Students, just like everyone else only have 24 hours each day to fit everything in (no matter how many energy drinks they consume) so they have to create a list of priorities to decide what matters are urgent and which ones can wait, says Shawnice Meador, director of Career Management & Leadership Development for MBA@UNC.

â€œRemember that sometimes what is important to someone else is not necessarily as important to you at that moment; you may have to occasionally say â€˜noâ€™ in order to stay on track with your personal and professional goals and objectives,â€ she says.

Although students may need to work a certain amount of hours to support themselves, itâ€™s vital they donâ€™t spread themselves too thin. Working extra hours during time off from school can give students some flexibility if they have a semester with a larger academic load, says Linda Descano, president and CEO of Women & Co.

â€œIf youâ€™re going to have classes that are very intensive, [ask your supervisor to] lower your work hours during that semester or figure out how are you going to allocate some of the course work that youâ€™re doing so you can still have enough time for work, which may be critical to your financial health, but also that you have some time to take a deep breath,â€ she says.
Step 3: Learn How to Multi-Task
Finding ways to multi-task and combine commitments can help students best utilize their time, particularly if they are commuting to class or work, says Tynes.

â€œStudents can look at how theyâ€™re using all aspects of their dayâ€"during their commute are they using that time to also study? Are they using it to meditate, sleep, are they using it to do some pleasure reading or socialize with their friends?â€

Busy students should also seek out opportunities to merge their school, work and social lives by getting involved in professional organizations and attending networking events, school-sponsored lectures and professional development workshops, suggests Meador.

â€œ These events are often free or low cost, and can really be worth the time and investment,â€ she says.

â€œThe best part of these opportunities [is] spending time with old and new friends while expanding your network and learning more about your profession.â€
Step 4: Seek Out Support Resources
If students are feeling overwhelmed, talking to academic and/or student advisors, professors, a peer-based or professional resource on campus can shed some light on problems or issues.

â€œTalking to non-university people in their lives - like a well-organized co-worker - that seem to balance multiple commitments with ease can also be helpful,â€ says Takeda-Tinker. â€œCommunication is a key when questions, issues, obstacles or concerns arise so that students can access the necessary resources and partner with their school in strategies for success.â€

Seeking out assistance from upperclassmen in their specific major or field also gives students more tailored, relevant advice about their situation, suggests Descano.

â€œIt could be little: how people take notes, how they study, finding people who commute with you,â€ she says. â€œEven if youâ€™re feeling overwhelmed, just to talk to someone and not keep it all buried in, but leveraging your parents, your friends and your advisors and asking for help.â€

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Balancing Act: Tips for College Students to Best Manage their Time

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With a schedule of early-morning lectures, cramming in study time between classes, making it to work on time and still finding time for a social life, college students may be feeling the pressure to keep all their plates spinning at the same time.

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Finding a Balance Between All Your Commitments

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Finding a Balance Between All Your Commitments

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Cut Yourself Some Slack

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"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony." ~Thomas Merton
As a Libra, my sign is the scale, which signifies balance. I'm not sure how much my "signage" plays into my desire to live a balanced life, but I do know that the more balanced I feel, the more free I feel.

In my work I am often reminded that what works for some people does not necessarily work for others, and that one person's idea of balance may not constitute anything remotely balanced from another person's perspective.

So I wanted to address the various elements of life that can require balancing and offer some suggestions to find the mix that works best for you.

To start, what does it mean to be balanced?

To me, it means that you have a handle on the the various elements in your life and don't feel that your heart or mind are being pulled too hard in any direction. More often than not, you feel calm, grounded, clear-headed, and motivated.

How do you find your balance?

The elements in life that require the most balancing can be divided into two categories: internal and external. Oftentimes, people focus on one more than the other.

For example, you may find that you focus on external things, like work, relationships, and activities, and that you pay very little attention to what is going on inside your heart and mind.

On the other hand, you may find that you spend so much time being self reflective that you sometimes miss out on the experience of living.

Other people may be fairly balanced between the two but might want to balance out some specific elements within each category, so I created this little outline to help us better understand the beneficial components on both ends of each spectrum.

Internal (Mind, Heart, Health)

Mind: Challenging yourself intellectually vs. creating opportunities for your mind to rest

Heart: Giving love vs. receiving love

Health: Eating, drinking, exercising properly vs. resting. and treating yourself to some extra yummies

External (Work, Social, Family, Fun)

Work: Pushing yourself to achieve goals vs. seeing the bigger picture and enjoying the ride

Social: Satisfying your social desires vs. taking time for yourself

Family: Fulfilling your familial responsibilities vs. creating healthy boundaries

Fun: Allocating time for things you enjoy doing vs. making sure you don't overdo it

As you can see, both ends of each spectrum are actually positive; but if either side is taken to an extreme, something that is intended to be positive can end up being detrimental.

It's helpful to check in with yourself to see if you feel balanced.

If you feel pulled in any one direction and uneasy about it, these steps may help you get your life aligned:

1. Acknowledge.

Take some time to really look at your life, your state of mind, and how you're feeling. Be honest with yourself and notice the areas of your life that you're neglecting.

2. Examine.

Notice if you're leaning more toward an internal or external focus, or if there are areas within each category that you would like to be more balanced.

3. Set Goals.

Look at the outline to help you decide which ways you want to balance your life. Make a list.

4. Plan Tasks.

Make a list of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that you will need to do to achieve each of these goals. What have you tried in the past? Did it work? If not, what can you do differently?

5. Reflect.

What is the most important thing you've accomplished in the past? How did you stay focused toward this goal? How did you handle your fears, doubts, anxieties, worries, and negative self-talk? How does it feel to know that you accomplished the goal in spite of these parts of yourself?

6. Prepare.

What is your inner "stuff" that will try to keep you from sticking to your plan (fears, worries, doubts, negative self talk)? Can you specify the things you will say to yourself to push you off track? (For example: "Just one more bite, I'll start eating better tomorrow.") Make a list.

7. Empower.

What do you need to remember in those times? What are things you can say to that self-sabotaging part of yourself? Be kind to yourself. Balance won't feel good if you're cruel to yourself in creating it!

8. Connect.

Is there a person or a tactic you can use to keep yourself supported, motivated, and focused in those hard times? I highly recommend connecting and sharing your inner process with someone. Find someone who can help you challenge your inner demons, and celebrate your little accomplishments.

Just like accomplishing any goal in life, it takes time and effort to overcome your habitual patterns and create new ones. If you stay on track with this detailed and intentional process for three whole months, then there is a good chance you will create new habits to enjoy a more balanced life going forward!

See a typo or inaccuracy? Please contact us so we can fix it!

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How to Create a Balanced Life: 9 Tips to Feel Calm and Grounded

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When you create a balanced life, you feel calm, grounded & motivated. If you feel pulled in any one direction, these steps may help get your life aligned.

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Eating well is one of the suggestions on this site that could help in the long run.

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Life can be stressful, but adding college can be even more so.

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By Natalie San Luis
Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for everyone. It is especially important for college students and young adults who are under stress.

A recent study looked at college students' exercise habits, the amount of time they spent socializing, their moods, and their stress levels.

The researchers found that students who vigorously exercised for at least 20 minutes a day, three times per week reported better moods and lower stress. Additionally, they claimed that some of the mental benefits of exercise came about as the result of socializing.

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The authors of the study said that the research could be used to improve mental health programs for college-aged students by emphasizing the importance of physical activity.

Nicole VanKim, MPH, and Toben Nelson, ScD, both with the Divison of Epidemiology and Community Health in the School of Public Health, University of Minneapolis, conducted the study in order to see the relationship between exercise, stress, mental health, and socializing in students at a four-year college.

Previous research has shown that exercise and physical activity decrease as adolescents become young adults. Consistent physical activity is an important way to reduce the risk of disease and death.

Additionally, transitioning into college can be a stress-inducing time for young adults. The National Comorbidity Survey found that 5.8 percent of young people age 15 to 24 are clinically depressed. According to the authors of the study, the ability to deal with stress is crucial for students to maintain their physical and mental health.

Most of the studies regarding college students, physical activity, and mental health have not shown how factors like socializing could influence a student's stress level.

In order to examine the effect of physical activity and socializing on students' mental health, the researchers used data from the Harvard School of Public Health Study of College Health Behaviors. Ninety-four schools participated in the study.

Students were emailed a survey regarding their health behaviors. About 28 percent, or 14,804 students, completed the survey.

The survey included questions about the frequency of vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes at a time. It also asked about the student's general mood, stress level, and amount of time spent socializing.

The researchers found that the students who met or exceeded recommendations for physical activity, by exercising three times per week for at least 20 minutes a day, were less likely to report lower moods and stress. They also spent more time socializing.

Students who reported that they had fewer than five close friends and spent fewer than two hours per day socializing had a higher risk of having lower moods and more stress.

Additionally, they found that students who were more social and exercised three or more times per week reported somewhat better moods and less stress than students who exercised with similar frequency but were less social. The researchers concluded that part of the benefit that frequent physical activity has on mood and stress relies on social interactions.

According to the researchers, the findings could be used to suggest that mental health programs for college students should promote physical activity. Additionally, some of the benefits of exercise are the result of socializing.

"Engaging in physical activity and socializing were both linked to better mental health and lower stress among college students," said Nicole VanKim, one of the authors, in an email. "Mental health and stress are important health issues for college students, especially with regard to academic success. Our findings suggest that physical activity, socializing, and mental health are important areas to incorporate into health services for college students."

The article was published in the American Journal of Health Promotion in September.

The authors did not disclose any funding sources or conflicts of interest.

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Exercise Key To Better Moods, Less Stress For College Students: Study

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By Natalie San Luis Physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for everyone. It is especially important for college students and young adults who are under stress. A recent study looked at college students' exercise habits, the amount of time they spent socializing, their moods, and their stress levels.

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Here is a list of suggestions for time management. I like the idea of having some help from the kids

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If you are juggling the roles of a parent, student and employee, you might be worried about how to survive summer and prepare for fall classes. Use these 10 tips to make the most out of your limited free time.

1. Make lists. Even if you can't get everything checked off that day, just writing it down can be a proactive step. Use apps such as Evernote, Cozi and Todoist-find the best one for your device, tech know-how and your budget-that sync with multiple devices to make sure no tasks or appointments slip through the cracks.

2. Prioritize. Note your school and work deadlines on a calendar. Arrange other tasks around these high-priority items.

3. Integrate activities. For example, take your children to an event at the library or plan a playdate while you study or complete preparations for fall classes.

4. Set goals. Assign a realistic deadline to each project (such as tasks to get ready for fall classes or projects related to your coursework), and consider breaking them down into smaller tasks.

5. Be realistic. Look over your schedule thoroughly and be honest about whether or not you can complete another task before saying "yes". Mastering this now will save you stress in the fall.

6. Cut out time-wasting activities. For example, avoid reading emails throughout the day by turning off the notifications on your phone. Pick a time-or a couple of times a day-to check them all at once.

7. Be prepared. Always carry your schoolwork with you and study when you happen to have downtime.

8. Ask your kids for help. Use the summer break to teach children additional household chores so that it's not a shock when fall arrives and your class schedule and school work kick in.

9. Give yourself wiggle room. If you are prepared by planning ahead, it can be easier to change your schedule when something unexpected happens, such as sickness or additional work tasks.

10. Regroup. Take a few moments to review tasks you have or have not accomplished. Decide what you did well and what can be improved-and possibly save you time in the future.

Sources: The College Board, University of Georgia, Florida Gulf Coast University

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10 time management tips for adult learners

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If you are juggling the roles of a parent, student and employee, you might be worried about how to survive summer and prepare for fall classes. Use these 10 tips to make the most out of your limited free time. 1. Make lists.

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I like the suggestion of making sure to get sleep. Very important!

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Blog | How to Save on Your College Degree | StraighterLine

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A successful college student is someone who knows how to manage their most critical resource - time. Here are 8 time management strategies to help adult learners like you fit college into your life:

1 - Establish priorities

Not all tasks are essential. Make a prioritized list. Some tasks can wait. Some tasks can be delegated. Some tasks can be tossed.

2 - Know yourself

Schedule highest priority tasks when you do your best work. Morning person or night owl - know who you are.
Want to see how online courses work? Take two free lessons on us today!
3 - Sleep. Be Healthy

Stress reduces performance, as does lack of sleep. Be sure to get enough of both. Also, try walking or stretching between study activities to help clear your mind and reset your brain for new information.

4 - Build in flexibility

An adult learner needs a flexible mindset and a flexible schedule. Build slack into your schedule to help manage unforeseen obstacles. Life happens. Plan accordingly.

5 - Let the little things add up

Don't wait for big chunks of time to get things done. Whether touching base with an academic advisor, editing a paper, reviewing notes, or reading a few pages of required reading - small things can be accomplished in the spaces between other commitments.

6 - Know when it's survival time

Midterms and finals are not a time for moderation. Non-essentials should fall to the wayside as you prepare yourself for these important tests. Let your friends and family know finals are coming so they can give you the space you need.

7 - Know when it's celebration time

Celebrate milestones. Acknowledge a job well done. Give yourself and others permission to be proud of your hard work - and mark the progression towards your degree.

8 - Compromise

At times, there will not be enough time to get things done the way you want. When those times happen, trade in excellence for efficiency. Sometimes, good enough has to be good enough.

Earning a college degree is a cumulative process. If you develop good time management habits early on - you'll be able to reward yourself with a college degree sooner, rather than later.
We have close to 100 partnership schools. Get your free personalized degree plan today!

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8 Time Management Tips for Adult College Students

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A successful college student is someone who knows how to manage their most critical resource - time. Here are 8 time management strategies to help adult learners like you fit college into your life: Not all tasks are essential. Make a prioritized list. Some tasks can wait. Some tasks can be delegated.

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This resource has some good tips. A big one that we need to avoid being procrastination

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5 Study Tips for Adult Learners

Going back to college as an adult is both a challenge and an opportunity. You know yourself, your strengths and your goals - and have the focus to achieve them. But academic pursuits must be balanced with a host of other responsibilities, including jobs, families and community obligations. Yet despite this, adult learners are on the rise: The number of students over the age of 25 was expected to grow 14% between 2011 and 2021, right on par with the 13% projected increase for students under 25, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. ¹ If you're among them-or thinking of becoming one-developing effective study skills and a clear plan for managing your workload can be the key to your success. Start with these five study tips that work with diverse adult learning styles.

1. Use Varied Study Materials: Don't limit your study resources to just your class textbook or reading list. Today, a host of supporting materials is available to help you digest and understand what you're studying. Classes often include online resources such as recorded lectures, interactive exercises, videos and more, and some universities even offer personalized learning platforms that let you skip over what you already know so you can focus your time on what you still need to learn. You may discover that you learn better through one medium over another, or that you can benefit from the reinforcement of reviewing materials in multiple learning formats. It's also helpful to think about how you learn best-such as through the flexibility of online classes.

2. Focus on Time Management: Often simply finding the time for classes is one of the biggest barriers adult learners face. Having a clear time management plan is a critical piece of the solution. Start by evaluating how much time a course will take. Taking courses online, for example, eliminates commute times and lets you fit study time into your schedule rather than the other way around. When mapping out your class commitments, budget time for attending or watching lectures and other types of lessons online, completing readings, researching projects, and writing papers or assignments. Breaking your work into individual components makes it easier to get it all done.

3. Be Well Prepared and Take Notes: Whether you're attending school in the classroom or online on your own time, commit to focusing during the time you're dedicating to your lessons. Keep your attention on your professor during lectures or live chats. If you're pursuing an online degree, dedicate clear time for studying and research when you won't be interrupted and-don't try to multi-task. Take good notes, and review your notes from previous lessons before the next one. By writing things in your own words and highlighting key parts of what you're studying, you may improve your retention and your ability to understand the class material.

4. Don't Procrastinate: Procrastination is one of the biggest reasons that students struggle in college. In some cases, this behavior relates to time management issues. In other cases, however, it's related to anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, or not knowing where to begin. Make it a priority to know deadlines for projects and any other course milestones. If you find yourself struggling or you're unsure where to start, seek help early on. Use your calendar to remind yourself about upcoming deadlines and consider connecting with another student as an accountability partner. Create a support structure that makes it difficult to procrastinate.

5. Connect with Learning Resources: Isolation can be a big variable in academic success or failure, especially when you're struggling with a class. Connect with support services offered by your school. Reach out to your professor for help or to answer questions. Consult your advisor to find out if there are tutoring services or research librarians that can assist with specific challenges. Other students can be a great resource: You may even work together on group projects or form study session groups. Be sure to also recruit others around you such as family, friends, and even your kids to help where they can and invest in your academic and career success.

Readjusting to academic life as an adult learner can be a challenge, but a bit of planning can help you overcome any obstacle and get on the road to success.
Considering going back to school to earn your degree? Explore online degree programs at AIU.

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5 Study Tips for Adult Learners Going back to college as an adult is both a challenge and an opportunity. You know yourself, your strengths and your goals - and have the focus to achieve them. But academic pursuits must be balanced with a host of other responsibilities, including jobs, families and community obligations.

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This is a resource with study tips for adult learning. I think we can all benefit from these.

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Successful Study Strategies for Adult Learners: Columbia College

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Study Strategies for Adult Learners can vary greatly from traditional students. Here are some tips for learning alongside your many responsibilities.