Or, balancing your responsibilities like a pro
It can be difficult to make the transition from high school, living at home, and maybe having a part-time job to university with its myriad opportunities for fun, work, and study.
It is important to set goals and know what you want out of your university life to get the most out of it.
Are you planning to focus on school?
Start slow, plan a few hours of studying during the first week or so, and gradually add to that sum as you see fit.
Do you want to meet people and make friends?
Joining clubs or intramural teams are great ways of having scheduled times to interact with your peers. If you’d rather a more homegrown approach, you could try organizing a movie night with your friends, or a group study period every week.
Are you planning on working?
Contrary to what you may think, having a part-time job can be very helpful in time-management.
If you’re interested in getting a part-time job, there are many employment opportunities in Guelph (especially on campus) that are used to hiring students, so schedule flexibility is a fairly typical thing.
Contrary to what you may think, having a part-time job can be very helpful in time-management. Knowing you have to work Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, means that you only have Tuesday and Friday to work on an assignment. It can help you prioritize your time much more efficiently than merely figuring you can do it at any time because you don’t have anything occupying space on your schedule.
You cannot overestimate how handy an up-to-date schedule is.
Your phone has a calendar app, but it can look bogged down with preexisting holiday events programmed in. To keep things a little more sleek and less overwhelming, there are many apps that offer the ability to keep track of your classes, assignments, work schedule, and even gym routine. Pocket Schedule, Timetable, and Calendars are all highly-rated apps available to keep your time management smooth and organized.
If you’re more of a Luddite, you can use a personal planner, such as the free one given out by the CSA during Orientation Week. Bump up your organization game with colour-coded sticky notes and highlighters in your agenda.
Be sure to have a support system. Even if it’s a friend from home, your parents, or your roommate.
Another great option is a large whiteboard wall calendar. You can see either the month or the entire semester at a glance and add, change, or erase things as the month goes on. These calendars are great for keeping track of due dates.
If you have a part-time job, it is a good idea to keep your availability as up to date as possible. If midterms are coming up, change your schedule accordingly. If Fridays are big nights for you, try to compromise with your employer by agreeing to work Friday afternoon or other weekend days. Employers of typical part-time jobs (i.e. retail, serving, etc.) are usually pretty understanding because they’re used to the nebulous schedules of students. If that fails, requesting a day off several weeks in advance is almost never rejected.
Please, ask for help if you need it.
Be sure to have a support system. Even if it’s a friend from home, your parents, or your roommate. It’s okay to feel stressed or upset every once in a while, but don’t let it simmer for too long. It is absolutely okay to lean on others.
Don’t be afraid to block off chunks of time to focus on yourself, your hobbies, your favourite shows.
Don’t forget to cut yourself some slack!
Were you late to a shift? Feel like you’ve been neglecting a friend? People understand. If you are overwhelmed by the many aspects of your life, please, take it easy on yourself. Understand that life is full of mistakes. Take a breath, have a snack, and keep going.
Finally, you cannot undervalue time spent on and for yourself. Don’t be afraid to block off chunks of time to focus on yourself, your hobbies, your favourite shows. Get a good night’s sleep and eat healthy meals, keep your body running as efficiently as it can. It is important to give yourself time to recharge, otherwise, despite all the time management in the world, you won’t be in top shape to accomplish the many things you’re capable of.
Image by Frances Esenwa/The Ontarion.