The Challenge:
For college students, a lack of balance can become overwhelming if healthy living and wellness aren’t factored into the overall equation
For college students, a lack of balance can become overwhelming if healthy living and wellness aren’t factored into the overall equation
Maintaining a good balance in your life during college will help you have a better experience but it is difficult to do so
Finding ways to escape from the daily grind will help you function more productively once when you return to work you will undoubtedly have
What we found:
- Time Management is Key
- According to a 2015 Student Engagement Insights survey by Cengage:
53% of college students claim to struggle more with time management in college than in high school, 78% of students claim to struggle with time management throughout their college experience, with an additional 9% claiming to “always” struggle with this
- Many college students report feeling that they do not have the time-management strategies they need to be successful
- The most common effects of poor time-management skills amongst college students include: lack of sleep, declining academic performance, chronic procrastination, poor diet, and an increased risk of dropping out
- College students need encouragement, structure, and tools necessary for students to stay on top of their work-life balance
- Finding Work-Life Balance
- Sticking to a daily schedule doesn’t just help with not falling behind on schoolwork but also managing stress
- Medical studies have shown that creating a daily schedule or using a planner helps your body adjust to a sometimes strenuous workload preparing it to know what to expect
With all this work on their plates though, devoting time to self-care helps recover some motivation
- Others find physical activity, like going to the gym or squeezing in some exercise, to be a great way to replenish their energy
Ultimately, most students still side with planning ahead being the best solution to being stretched thin in their responsibilities
- Balancing coursework, roommates, co-curricular activities, finances, and personal relationships, in a totally new and different environment is a tremendous change for students who may be coming from a world where most of their basic needs were taken care of
- Coming up with a stress management plan that includes proven strategies for reducing stress can be effective: Meditate for 10 to 15 minutes a day, three to four times a week, Practice yoga a few times a week, When possible, get 7-8 hours of sleep per night, Exercise a few times each week
- Another problem that college students often face is getting involved in too many activities and not knowing how to assert themselves by learning how to say “ no”
and vice versa not branching out due to social anxieties, not knowing what is offered and with who, etc.
- Time management is especially important for college students since college life can suck up every available minute if you let it
- The key is to find the types of activities that make you feel good and helps you to recharge your batteries so that you can face your commitments and responsibilities with renewed energy and a renewed sense of purpose
