Struggling to manage everything that life is throwing you at the moment? If you’ve been trying to juggle everything without making an effort to sit back and plan out your time, chances are you won’t have much room for a life. Or, your sweatpants, couch, and TV will start to dominate most of your spare time.
But there’s so much more to life beyond the latest binge-worthy series. While it’s necessary to juggle all these things, it’s also equally important to remember that life is short and there’s no point in working so hard if you don’t make time to actually enjoy it a little. If you’re looking for ways to improve your balancing act, here are some good tip for balancing work, life and school.
Plan Out Your Day the Night Before
Wondering why some people who appear to have just as much stuff on their plate seem to manage everything just fine? This is because they’ve learned how to manage their time effectively. People who are good at juggling a hectic schedule do so because they have a detailed routine set in place — what to make for dinner, when to tackle their growing pile of laundry, when to go to the gym, when to attend the study group, and so on.
When you start to feel overwhelmed, take a look at your day-to-day habits. Are they deliberate and organized? If not, use a calendar, day planner, app, or even a whiteboard in your apartment to plan out each day the night before, so you know exactly what to do and when to do it.
Prioritize
While creating your next day agenda, make sure to focus on your priorities. While recurring tasks already have their timeslot, we recommend also focusing on three things each day to get done. This way you won’t get so overwhelmed, and if you’re able to tick off more than three tasks, it’s a bonus!
Give Yourself at Least One Day Off a Week
No matter how much stuff you have going on, your body and brain will reach a point of burn out unless you’re giving them both some reprieve on a regular basis. This is why setting aside some personal time to chill out and regroup is so important. Give yourself at least one day off each week. This day can be spent however you like — sleeping in, not moving from the couch, catching up with friends, enjoying a night out on the town, or whatever. Being able to switch off for a day, relax, and forget about work and school is critical for staying sane, happy, and ready to take on the world.
Make Sleeping a Priority
Even though we know how essential it is to maintain a healthy sleeping pattern, it’s not always easy to do. Between schoolwork, long work shifts, and a boatload of stress piled high, sleep can become a serious struggle.
What do you tend to do during the hour before you sleep? Surf the web? Stay glued to your phone? If you’re overdosing on screen time right up until you hit the bed, the overload of harsh blue light could be impacting your sleep. Try to avoid screen time an hour before bed and instead, listen to calming music, do some light stretching, read, or listen to a meditation video to calm your mind and prep it for bed.
Learn How to Meal Prep
Cooking can become the biggest pain when you barely have time to groom yourself let alone grocery shop. But keeping on top of your game also means keeping on top of your health. Scarfing down heavy, greasy carbs every day will not only zap your energy and place you right into a food coma each time, but it won’t provide the nourishment and fuel that your body and mind need in order to function at their prime.
So start to meal prep. Pick a handful of simple, healthy recipes that you can make in advance so that you can throw things together quickly and grab food when you need it. Your body and mind (and budget) will thank you! Just remember — you can’t change everything about your life at once! Try getting better at one of these points at a time. Take it slow, and enjoy incremental success.
