Maintaining Relationships In Your Busy Schedule

As an undergraduate in college, you may often be told to always put school first. The problem with this statement is that it does not take into account priorities.

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If you tell your girlfriend/boyfriend that school comes first, then you are basically telling them that they are no longer your priority. Furthermore, family bonds should never be put on the back burner. School may become your newest struggle but make sure you leave yourself enough time to maintain your relationships.

Perhaps now-a-days you no longer have time to constantly text your friends and family and that’s OK, your parents understand how busy you have become. But this does not mean that they are no longer still on your mind. A daily text to your parents will often suffice. Tell them what you have planned for the day or how you aced that midterm! Keep your parents in the loop because they have always been there for you through everything and cutting them off will hurt them just as much as it would hurt you if they stopped keeping in contact.

No matter how old you get, your parents will still always see you as their baby, so it never hurts to check in or tell them that you are safe and back in your dorm or apartment. An occasional text will put your parents at ease and show them that you still think about them and care. If you live close enough to your parents, try to visit at least once a month. Make this plan a priority in your schedule and then schedule other events around it. You most likely will never have class on the weekend which makes it the perfect opportunity for you to visit your folks.

Maybe on your first visit home from college, bring them flowers or something special so that they know how important it is to you that you still visit. Since you were born, your parents made you their priority, so try to reciprocate and show them the love and appreciation that you have for them.

Romantic relationships are just as important. Maintaining a healthy relationship will help keep your stress levels down and encourage you to stay healthy both mentally and physically. Plan your day ahead of time and try to figure out where you have free time in your schedule. If you have time to watch Netflix daily, then you have time that could be spent with your partner. Study together, get lunch together, even if you are both busy working on homework, be busy together.

Merely being in the company of someone you love will boost your energy and help you get through this stressful period in your life. Whether you spend the whole day together or just one hour, you are showing your partner they are important to you and that you will always make time for them.

Ultimately no matter what, never tell someone that you do not have time for them because this basically means that they are not a priority to you. Just as you would make time for school, make time for relationships, whether it be with parents, friends or romantic interests. This will not only help you but also help your loved ones.

When it comes down to it, scheduling is the best thing you can do for yourself. Plan time with friends, family and loved ones as well as time for yourself. College years are meant to be some of the best years of your life and the friends that you make now will probably stay friends with you for the rest of your life. So go out, make friends and make some memories that will last forever.