The Work, School, Life Balancing Act
By Nicole Lamoureux of James Madison University
Between class schedules, fieldwork preparation, NBCOT studying, working side jobs, and maximizing free time with family and friends, life can be quite the circus! Here are some tips to make the balancing act a little less stressful:
- Plan ahead. When writing down due dates for assignments and upcoming presentations, don’t forget to schedule in at least one leisure activity or day off! By combining your social and academic calendars, you are guaranteed to have something to look forward to and you’ll get to see the bigger picture.
- Two letters, big meaning. With so much going on, it’s easy to neglect “me time,” and saying NO doesn’t feel like an option. It’s best to be honest with yourself. If you’re feeling exhausted and overbooked yourself, it’s better to decline an opportunity than to take it on and be more stressed.
- Treat yourself! When you ace your pediatrics final, take a full NBCOT practice test, or get good markings on your fieldwork midterm, celebrate! Your accomplishments—both great and small—deserve to be rewarded.
- Expand your inner circle. Get to know your classmates, professors, supervisors, and staff. Try planning lunch or an outing outside the typical work week, and talk about things other than work. Networking on personal and professional levels is a great way to achieve balance.
- Sleep, eat, exercise, repeat. Take care of your body in every way you can. Find time during lunch to take a walk outside. Pick up a novel to read before bed instead of watching TV. Keep trail mix or pieces of fruit handy for snacking during studying. Recharge your body so you can recharge your mind.
Balance is a very subjective term—at different times in your life you will view “life balance” differently. Baz Luhrman said it best in his speech, “Everybody’s Free”, “Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and in the end, it's only with yourself.” Remember, achieving balance is a process—not a goal!
Reference
Korpob, J. & Roman, V. (2014, June 2). Tips for Finding Your Work/Life Balance. Retrieved from http://www.naspa.org/constituent-groups/posts/tips-for-finding-your-work-life-balance