The hardest challenge of my freshman year was figuring out how to balance my academic reasonability’s and my well-being. At first, I wasn’t spending enough time on learning the materials for my classes. I was prioritizing social life because everything felt so new and exciting. I pretty quickly started falling behind and so I decided to dedicate all my time to school. However, that made me feel very isolated and depressed. I was allowing my schoolwork to affect my anxiety so much that I started spiraling and it had a big effect on my well-being. My mindset had gone from one extreme to the other and so I knew I needed to find a healthy in between for myself. I realized I needed to use techniques for balancing my academics and well-being.
The techniques listed below have helped me find a perfect balance in maintaining a healthy well-being and success in my academics. I do want to make very clear that the techniques that worked the best for me might not be the best techniques for everyone else. Everyone is different so you should try out these techniques, but you might find some of them work better than others. These are just helpful techniques that I wanted to share to hopefully help anyone else who is trying to manage their academics and well-being.
Set Clear Goals
Establish your personal and academic objectives first. Divide the semester up into small, achievable goals. For example, instead of merely hoping to “get good grades,” determine a certain GPA that you want to attain or complete a certain assignment by a date. Having specific goals helps you stay motivated and on course.
Create a Schedule
An organized timetable is your greatest ally. Make a schedule of your classes, study sessions, and deadlines using a planner or digital calendar. Divide your work into weekly or daily schedules, giving priority to the things that must be done right now. For instance, allocate certain blocks of time for assignments, readings, and exam preparation. This helps you stay organized and less stressed out at the last minute.
Stay Organized
Being well-organized is essential for academic achievement. Organize your materials, assignments, and notes. Assemble resources according to subjects using physical or digital folders. To efficiently handle ideas and notes, take into consideration digital solutions such as Notion or Evernote. When the going gets tough, you can quickly get what you need this way.
Engage In Active Learning
Passive reading and note-taking may not be enough to really absorb difficult content. Incorporate active learning approaches into your study routine:
- Practice tests
- Teaching others the material
- Summarize lessons learned and notes taken after every class
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Your physical health directly affects your academic achievement. Focus on keeping a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and obtaining frequent exercise. Simple exercises like yoga or walking can improve your mood and focus. Additionally, prioritize sleep; strive for 7-9 hours per night to ensure your brain performs at its optimum.
Practice Mindfulness
Including mindfulness exercises in your daily routine can help you feel less stressed. Practice deep breathing techniques or meditation to help you center yourself. Focus and mental clarity can be enhanced with even a short daily mindfulness practice.
Create a Network of Support
Although attending college can be daunting, you don’t have to do it alone. Be in the company of mentors, family members, or friends who are encouraging and able to offer guidance. When you need assistance, don’t be afraid to ask for it from campus resources like academic advisers or counseling services.
Manage Stress Effectively
Managing stress is vital in for creating and maintaining well-being. You can do this by setting boundaries make time for hobbies and activities that you enjoy and spend time with people that make you feel fulfilled. Surrounding yourself with good people and things that you enjoy that can make you destress can have a positive effect on how you manage your stress effectively.
Celebrate Small Wins
It is important to be a cheerleader for yourself. Acknowledging your achievements and rewarding yourself because of those achievements’ ingrains confidence in yourself. Being kind to yourself can have a big power on how you do on a test, homework, etc.
I hope you enjoyed this blog! Remember to fill out the follow me form on my website to get weekly newsletters from me for more insight on navigating our twenties.
Here is another website that can provide helpful techniques for you to figure out the best way for balancing these two topics.
