If you are anything like me, when exams come around, you go off the grid and hit the books harder than ever. Being the first and last person in the library has been a recent occurrence, which is great for my grades but not for self-care. Constantly thinking about what homework is next or what exams need to be studied for is not healthy. Now that spring break has come, I have taken time to learn how to balance school and myself, a surprisingly difficult task. Here are the top five things I have incorporated into my day-to-day life to maintain straight A grades while protecting my peace.
- Journaling
Journaling is something I was very hesitant about starting since it seems like you’re just adding unnecessary work and taking up time when you could be doing something more productive. But after starting, it doesn’t feel like it takes up any time at all. Originally, I intended journaling to be a weekly activity, but after feeling that much of my stress was relieved from it, I’ve incorporated it into my nightly routine. It feels good to put your thoughts into a concrete format, especially if you’ve been juggling studying, classes, homework, and life in general all day. Journaling helps put thoughts into perspective and plan out how you will spend the next day, which grants peace of mind. I encourage you to try it; even if you start out doing it weekly or only a few sentences a day, it will improve your life greatly.
- Exercise
In no way am I a gym rat; actually, I am terrified of the gym, and I have been for a long time. I always thought that going to the gym had to be for hours at a time where the goal was to “bulk up” or “slim down” or whatever those workout influencers say. But in reality, exercise is extremely important for all health aspects. Since going to the gym daily, even for thirty minutes at a time, I have felt that I have much more energy, which is great for long study sessions. It also just feels good. I’m no scientist, so I cannot explain the phenomena, but since going to the gym, I have a much more positive disposition and feel much more stress-free. This was a game changer since I always stress myself out over the next big exam or project. Going to the gym (or even going on walks or pilates outside) has improved every aspect of my life by so much, and I highly recommend it.Â
3. Doing Nothing
This one sounds strange, but hear me out. Seriously, try doing nothing for two minutes. Right now (or after you’re done reading this), sit in silence and just look out the window for two minutes. Feels good, right? It is so rare that we are comfortable with nothing to stimulate us. So when you give your body even two minutes to decompress and just watch the sunset from outside your window, you’re doing yourself a huge favor. This is certainly an acquired skill that takes time to get used to, but once you’ve mastered sitting with just yourself for a period of time, you will feel so much more at peace. Since starting this, I have been able to get up to 5 minutes, which is a big deal for me since I am always preoccupied with something. I have found that this practice alleviates so much stress and allows me to work much more effectively throughout my day.
4. Hourly Planner
Scheduling things on an hourly basis has absolutely, undeniably saved my life. Operating hourly versus daily is a huge difference. When looking at a day as a whole, it is more challenging to map out how much time needs to be put into each activity, especially since we only tend to put scheduled events in daily calendars. When using an hourly calendar, you can include everything from what time your classes are to when you have time to take a quick shower. Mapping out each part of your day (even the minuscule parts) is crucial to finding balance and makes daily life far more manageable. Personally, by incorporating this into my life, I have been so much more productive, have been maintaining a stable sleep schedule, and have been less worried about what to do with my free time. It also allows you to self-examine how much time you put into certain activities and adjust where necessary.
5. Stay Out of Your Room
If you have a desk in your room, it can be tempting to just do your homework there since it is so close. But it is important to never make your home base your workplace. Bedrooms are supposed to be calming and somewhere to take time to yourself. By doing your work there, it can be harder to differentiate when should be a time of relaxation and when should be a time to work. Additionally, it can be much easier to find distractions in your room than elsewhere. On campus, I often mind myself trying to find new places to study so that my dorm remains a peaceful place. Even when at home, I explore different coffee shops, libraries, and other places in my hometown where I can be productive and keep my bedroom a bedroom. As much as productivity is important, so is making sure your room is comfortable so that you can get good, restful sleep.
I hope you feel inspired to try at least one of these methods I have started using to improve my life because I can attest they work. Even starting with the smallest change can lead to a lasting impact, so why not try it? It can be challenging at first (or even scary), but there is no loss when it comes to trying to self-improve. For all the overachievers out there, the most important lesson I have learned recently is that even though getting good grades is important, your mind and body are what matter the most, and to do your best; the most important things need to come first.