Now that you have been in class a few weeks, hopefully, you have developed some good study habits. However, it is important that you don’t overwork yourself. Between school, work, and family responsibilities, it is easy to get a little overwhelmed. That’s okay—it happens to everyone. Your College Completion Coaches are here to help you create a healthy work-life balance that you can maintain beyond this semester
Work-life balance begins with good physical health. It’s crucial to drink water, replace the junk food with some nutritious meals, and guard your sleep schedule. Giving your body the fuel it needs to succeed is key to warding off illness and limiting stress.
Hit up the rec center or participate in intramural sports to get your heart pumping. Getting in your recommended 30 minutes of cardio a day is not only heart smart, but it also increases your endorphins and lowers stress!
Remember to breathe! This tip may seem basic, but studies show that deep breathing can limit stress, expand your lungs, and lower your blood pressure. Best of all, you can practice this method while on the go. You can pair deep breathing with physical activities like yoga, or with meditation.
Staying organized and on top of your assignments is one of the best ways you can stop stressing before you even start.
A good work-life balance also requires social sacrifices. It is okay to say no. It’s important to make time for family and friends or to lend a helping hand from time to time, but you can’t be the go-to person for everyone in your network. Forget the FOMO and listen to yourself. If you need to study, sleep, or just want some alone time, it’s okay to tell your loved ones you just can’t get together tonight.
If you find that you are getting so anxious and overwhelmed that it is difficult to function, your campus has mental health resources that can help you through! If you are interested in seeking out counseling services and don’t know how to get started, contact your College Completion Coach and we will get you all the information you need.
When you start to feel overwhelmed, remembering the purpose of what you are doing can help you stay goals-focused. You are studying hard for your midterms, so you can do well in your classes, earn your degree, and start that career you have been dreaming about. Also, try to remember: everything is temporary. Sometimes it helps to take a deep breath and say, “this too shall pass.”
We totally understand—stress is an unavoidable part of the college experience, but maintaining a healthy work-life balance can help you overcome stressful moments. You aren’t alone; your Take Stock in College family is here to help!
I found this article very beneficial because it reminds readers that a healthy life balance not only consists of exercise, eating and sleep but a social life. It is imperative to form goo relationship with people.
I think the article definitely resonates with a confusing student on what they should do whenever they are met with a unbalanced and unhealthy lifestyle.
This article was very helpful. It made us realize that we havd to start applying this in our lives.
It is definitely okay to say no to plans if you need a mental health day. Don’t feel bad because you can’t be there for everybody, and knowing from experience, saying yes to everything will make you less happy with yourself; you need to put yourself first. Don’t stress too much, and if so try to breathe and plan out certain times where you should be the most stressed due to an exam or homework or something. Plan out your day and stay organized because classes can sometimes overlap, and it can be stressful, but just remember to breathe and know everything will be okay.
Julia Menke
Jennifer Smith
Karina Paz Salazar