Balancing work, school and other priorities
This past Wednesday, the Career Development Center held a virtual event in conjunction with the Counselling Center on how to manage time and tasks this semester. They have realized that, due to the University’s current online format, priorities can build up quickly. In this program, they offered five essential tips on how to balance work, school, socialization, and other things that are important for success.
1. Brainstorming and writing a plan
One of the most important tips for balancing a schedule is writing out a general plan. This plan can be made by sorting out what things need to be accomplished, and by when. One way to go about this is by setting goals. Goals help make a plan more concrete and doable. A recommended way to set these goals is to follow the SMART method. The SMART goals method allows for more specification, such as when the goal has to be accomplished, how it is relevant, and by when it needs to be accomplished.
The basic methodology of SMART goals and what it stands for.
2. The 80/20 method
The 80/20 method is a simple theory stating that what you put in, you will get in return. For example, if you put in 20% of your effort, you will get 80% of the results in return. This method helps to show that doing even a little bit of work can help relieve problems and stress. One example given is that completing 20% of your to-do list will help relieve 80% of your problems. This theory can be applied to homework, projects, and other tasks.
3. Prioritize
Prioritizing helps to identify which of your goals are most important. One helpful technique that was shared was listing things A-E(or 1-5 if you are more into numbers). Begin by listing what is most important and must be done as soon as possible (A/1), to what can be pushed off to another day (E/5). This system can also be broken down into subcategories after the basic version to promote even better organization.
4. Establishing boundaries and self-care
One way of getting things finished up and completed is by establishing boundaries. It is okay to say no to what you are unable to take on and accomplish successfully, along with turning down what could add to the stress of what is already planned. Establishing these boundaries gives you a voice, and allows you to practice what works best for you. These boundaries can be anything from refusing an extra credit assignment to ensuring others do not interrupt you during a study session.
Another important aspect of boundary-setting is self-care. Self care involves taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health in various ways. Self care helps to rebalance yourself, relieve stress and avoid burnout. Incorporating it into your schedule, whether for five minutes a day or an hour a day, helps with keeping yourself balanced.
The self care wheel, which serves to give various ideas about what a person can do for self care.
5. Finding resources to assist
Taking care of yourself and remembering everything can be a burden. But, in this age, there are plenty of resources that can help. There are resources that can help with planning and organizing, remembering passwords, and even unwinding after a long day. These resources can be anything from technology to an old fashioned planner to a close friend willing to assist you in these trying times.
Following these five steps can help lead to a more balanced life. If you require more academic support, you can reach out to the O’Neill Center at oneill_center@stkate.edu. If you are in need of other support, you can also reach out to the Counseling Center at counselingcenter@stkate.edu or to other trusted resources through Student Success.
