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Above the doors of the Michigan Union at U-M stand two statues of Irving Pond, the architect of the Union. If you look up at the brick architecture, you’ll notice that one statue represents an athlete, while the other displays a scholar. Together, these statues are meant to portray the ideal U-M student. These statues showcase the importance of balancing a strong academic career and an active social life while at the university. However, for many students, achieving this balance can feel like a daunting task. With the looming pressure of deadlines, exams, and endless homework, it often seems like a balancing act with too many things to juggle.

Fortunately, I have a few pieces of advice that have helped me achieve this balance.

Getting Involved in Student Organizations

With over 1,700 student organizations at U-M, there are numerous opportunities to get involved in campus life. Student organizations are an excellent way to branch out, meet new people, and explore your personal interests. Whether you’re looking to expand your professional network, try out a new hobby, or connect with others on campus, organizations can provide a fun and meaningful balance between academics and social life. While every student’s approach to campus involvement is different, I recommend finding one organization that aligns with your academic goals and another that allows you to take time for something fun. Oftentimes, organization members will have similar goals or interests and can assist in making campus feel much more close-knit.

Create a Schedule

One tactic that can be useful in balancing your time as a university student is keeping a calendar, planner, or list that helps manage your tasks and events. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed if you have multiple classes, deadlines, and activities. By having a visual for your priorities, your day will feel more organized and you can reduce stress surrounding the amount of work on your hands. This also allows you to recognize your free time and allocate time for breaks, spending time with friends, and self care.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is particularly important for students to reduce stress and stay grounded throughout the week. This could include activities like going to the gym, taking a walk, journaling, meditating, or anything else that helps you clear your mind. While schoolwork often takes priority, it is crucial to remember that self care should not be neglected. These mindfulness activities are often the first to get pushed to the back burners when school feels stressful. However, they play an important role in maintaining your well-being. It is important to remind yourself that you are not just a student. You are first and foremost a person with needs that expand beyond academic priorities. Taking time for yourself will help you maintain a healthy balance and perform better on your academic pursuits when necessary.

Set Boundaries

The last piece of advice that I have is to set clear boundaries for your time commitments. Schoolwork, studying, spending time with friends, and practicing mindfulness are all key to being a successful student. In order to manage each of these tasks, you will need to properly block your time off. When you’re focusing on academics, you can set a particular amount of time to study with limited distractions before moving on to other activities. During this time, you should make sure you’re in a productive environment that is comfortable and conducive to focusing on your work. Then, once you reach a certain time of the day or duration of time, you can spend time with your friends, take time for yourself, or prepare for the day ahead. By limiting certain time to specific priorities, you will reduce burnout and prolonged stress.

Similarly, you can also set boundaries with your social life. Remind yourself that it is okay to say no to additional commitments or events. Instead of trying to be social all of the time, you should make sure you are not stretching yourself too thin. Establishing boundaries across all aspects of your life will help to improve your well-being and create a balanced college experience.

Conclusion

All in all, navigating the college experience is not likely to be perfected immediately. It takes time to figure out what works best for you and your needs as a student. However, these initial tactics will ease your transition into college. Along the way you’ll meet new people, take on new hobbies, and expand your life experiences for the better.