The Great Balancing Act

By Courtney Judd on January 15, 2013

Raise your glasses and toast to the new year. With each new year comes a fresh start and a new array of tasks and responsibilities to conquer. This semester I have 19 textbooks, 14 credits, 3 jobs, 2.5 years worth of college buddies, and 1 boyfriend. While I love reading, learning, working, socializing, and seeing my sweetheart I go a little nuts trying to fit everything on my plate. Like me, many BYU students are hard workers and overachievers struggling to get everything done. Here are a few survival suggestions I have.

1. Know your schedule.

This may seem overly simple, but trust me it is a life saver. Have a notebook to record what time you have work, class, and meetings. Especially as Latter-day Saints here at BYU, we have a lot of time and work devoted to fulfilling church responsibilities like home/visiting teaching, council jobs, and ward activities. If you have a concrete list of your schedule then you can schedule your free time.

2. Make time to read scriptures, cook, exercise, and sleep.

When you take care of your body and spirit, it is easier to accomplish the plethora of daily tasks. First, it is important to devote time to God every day. It might seem hard to do at first, but it really makes a difference in attitude and ability to accomplish everything. When you sacrifice time for Heavenly Father, He lightens your load. Once you feed your spirit, it is essential to feed your body! Cooking is so important because it gives you a break from working to relieve stress, allows you to socialize when time is limited, and it makes your body strong and healthy to stay more alert. Exercising is also a great tool to relieve stress, gain confidence, and sleep better. And last, adequate rest is essential! I try to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night to function best. Even though these are all time consuming tasks, they make you happier and make your stressful life easier.

3. Set aside time blocks to do homework.

I do my homework in between work and class hours during the day. I try to get as much accomplished before dinner as possible when my mind is functioning at it’s best. When I have an over abundance of homework I make study dates with my boyfriend so we can still see each other even though we are both busy. When the time is scheduled ahead of time, it is easier to get the work done.

4. Make plans with your boyfriend and set time limits.

Even though we are adults doesn’t mean that we are too old for a bedtime. Like a lot of BYU students my boyfriend and I are so busy with school and work that we can only see each other at night so it is tempting to stay out late every night. Recently, we decided to have an 11 o’clock bedtime. We try to eat dinner together, then do homework, then spend time together from 9-11 p.m. on week nights. That way we are spending quality time together without burning the candle at both ends. The weekends are a much better time to stay out late, because you can sleep in then.

5. Have a weekly girls’ night.

Don’t neglect your friends just because you have a boyfriend! My boyfriend has a weekly boys’ every Wednesday night. He and his buddies go to Lowe’s Extreme Sports then get cherry limeade at Sonic afterwards. My girlfriends and I this week will be starting our Gilmore Girls-nail painting-snack eating-Wednesday nights tomorrow. It’s healthy to maintain strong friendships while in a relationship.

I hope these tips are helpful! I’m learning as I go, so please offer your suggestions in the comments section if you have any wisdom to impart. Remember, just have fun!