The Balancing Act

Between preparing for the GRE, starting graduate school applications, continuing my research and presenting at conferences, taking the maximum amount credits, and being heavily involved in my orgs, my days have been filled with stress and burnout. Being only one semester away from graduating does not help with procrastination and starting the "senior slide". It has been difficult to combat these issues, but I will describe some ways I have been managing my time to increase efficiency and maintaining a healthy mind.

Creating a Plan

Using a planner and keeping it up-to-date is a simple but effective way I have been able to manage my daily tasks, homework, meetings, and relaxation time. I learned this semester how important it is to organize your day to limit stress and help you stay on task. It is really easy to forget or get caught up with other things that you don't update your planner. What I like to do is take five minutes to write down what needs to get done today in order of priority, what can wait until tomorrow, and then fill out the rest of my week. It reinforces what needs to get done and makes me feel more prepared for the week.

Avoiding Burnout

Burnout is a real issue that affects most students during midterms and finals. It is easy to get overwhelmed with tests, assignments, work, and other commitments. One thing I like to do that gives more structure to my day but also gives me free time is have a set time frame throughout the day that I will be at classes or doing homework. I know that I will be working on homework, studying, or preparing for meetings. It is my time to be the most productive. After that time is done, I have more flexibility to keep studying, hangout with friends, or take some personal time.

Self Care

It is okay to take a break to reset your mind! It is actually better to take a break when you feel too overwhelmed or anxious because you will be able to focus and perform better on assignments and tests. Self care could be anything from taking 10 minutes in the morning and evening to do yoga, reading a book, exercising, doing a face mask, taking a bath or shower, journaling, or cooking a meal. Self care is pretty much anything that will give you a break and reset your mind while still being physically or mentally productive.