Keeping your sanity...

[Ashes711]

Hey! I was just wondering how you other college students keep your sanity during the semester. It's my senior year, and I'm still not sure how to maintain a social life along with school and work! lol

 

[SweaterInJune]

That's a hard thing. I'm a theatre design major and I'll be honest, I think only law and med students parallel the work hours that we keep. Many nights I don't even get to sleep because I won't meet a deadline...or if I do, it's only for a half hour or so. Add to it this semester, my last, 42 hours of work work a week and I'm basically drowning already. It's rough, but you have to do what you have to do.

I don't say this to minimize the impact of your schedule at all, but more to say, 'Trust me! I'm right there with you...'

My advice is try to schedule your time out. Give specific amounts of time to work on things and schedule plenty of short breaks. Also, schedule time to do some social things with friends. Unfortunately, if these things are very impromptu you may run into trouble. For me, I try to schedule things out. Do I stick to it? Not really, but it puts everything into some sort of perspective. I often find that I don't have enough time to allow for my projects. Sadly, there isn't much to do about that, but the best I can do. For others...they choose to stay sane by getting drunk. A drink or two is fine, but I don't think drunkeness is a productive habit to be in though...

 

[Alyssa88]

I know how you feel. I have to schedule evrerything. I work 2 part-time jobs, 17 credit hours and a vounteer position. I am also a part of 3 organizations on campus. I love my crazy hectic life but if I ever need an extra rest I'm screwed. I have to schedule when I can eat, sleep, study, and socialize. I can't schedule a work out time b/c it doesn't fit- so I just take the stairs, lol. My friends sort of assume that b/c I don't work Thursday and Saturday nights that that just means I am going out with them. Doesn't bother me too much, in fact I love going out and partying but sometimes I think about how great it would be just to relax instead. I have gone alot w/o sleeping or eating b/c of my crazy schedule, i am working on that little problem now.

I think its just something everyone has to work out on their own, schedules are great, but it can prety stressful having everything planned out. All college students have tough schedules but still want to have a great social life . . . it can get pretty difficult. I hope you can figure something out that is best for you.

 

[hniki234]

I'm actually in law school right now (third and last year!), so I can relate. Its extremely important to keep up social activities! Its the only way to stay sane! I understand that there's always a lot to do, but sometimes you just have to forget it and take time to relax...even if its only for a couple of hours.

 

[schmitty]

I find no problem at all doing my work and having a social life. Its easy for me.

 

[i<3Disney]

I tried to put 1-2 nights a week on hold for going downtown to bars etc and then the rest of the nights I stayed in and........tried.....to do my work.

 

[Jaclyn810]

Write down everything you have to do and figure out when your free time is... Set aside some free time for homework and studying.. Try to cut down hours at work if its a part time job(school is more important)..Use the rest of your free time for ur social life because thats what will keep u sane - the things you love to do... Like going on the dis

 

[brasswillow]

Right now I'm having a bit of a hard time keeping up with school and having fun. You just have to pick what you love and then everything else has to go away until there's extra free time.

 

[AladdinJay]

You know this is funny because I'm struggling with the EXACT same thing.

I'm taking 18 credit hours, working three jobs, am a member of two honor socities, and am involved with 3 organizations on campus. It's my senior year though, and I thought I had this balance of school/work figuered out, but this year is kicking my butt!

For me, it helps to know this is my last year. I just buckle down and go for it, do my best, and try to make the best of it!

 

[LuckieGW]

Full time student, 2nd year but first at the new college and Commuting. I'm working 30 hour weeks at Stop N Shop. Totally not cool and not getting ahead anywhere because the job doesn't even pay well. It's getting me late on web design clients, and I haven't even had a moment to finish my resume to get to the career guy at school. The more I make the best of it, the more hours they give me at work and the more people could care less about whats really going on. My mother loves that I'm working 30 hour weeks at a job like that. She thinks the only kind of work in the world is a steady hourly job no matter what it pays or how it wears at your body or mind. She needs to realize that the old American ideal is dead and it's not coming back. You don't get anywhere starting from the bottom and working your way up. You need to shoot high and fall wherever you hit and if necessary, take another shot.

To anyone struggling balancing college and work, talk to the career guy at school and don't get stuck at a crappy minimum wage job because theres always something better than that.

I'm not going to be afflicted by the job much longer, especially when my grades start to show the wear. I'm finishing my resume tomorrow and getting in to the career guy. After that, I quit. I've got way too many good things going to waste my life (even another month of it) working at a job where it's getting me nowhere. Unfortunately, while I'm commuting from home, I live in the same house as my mother and theres no way around doing some sort of "conventional" work.

I know I'm not alone when it comes to hating conventional work. If anyone is in the Massachusetts area and has acting or film experience I'm setting up a sketch comedy group to perform for the internet (Internet TV Show). I also set up the scripts to be completely editable from the internet so that anyone from around the world can contribute a segment/skit. Check it out if you're interested. It's at laffonline d0t c0m.

 

[Darth Sidious]

i just take it one day at a time, just one day at a time. before i know it ill out of college and asking myself "where did the time go??" time goes by very fast, you don't realize it but it does. so like i said, i just take my college days one day at a time. its been a year and a month since i started college and i can't believe its been that long.

 

[crzyred]

haha i didn't know there was such a thing as sanity right now!! i'm right there with ya trying to figure things out. basically i run myself dry until i realize i'm snapping at everyone and always crabby. i just grab some friends and head downtown and say screw it to homework/projects. probably not the best choice but even just getting away for a few hours totally helps me to regain my focus and momentum!

 

[Uuaww]

college football during the winter, baseball durning the spring, add in march madness, and only my february suck