My entire life, I’ve prioritized finding my perfect balance. I’ve always found it incredibly important to prioritize my academics, but not at the expense of my social life. In high school I took AP classes, but also was a part of my school’s diving team. I interned at my local hospital senior year, but went to every home football game with my friends. My priority to find the balance in my life has lasted through my time at Notre Dame– and is important for everyone.
Of course, while I prioritize balance, it is a matter of trial and error. Especially during my freshman year, I struggled to experience all the aspects of college. It is impossible to not fail sometimes. There were weeks when I felt like I was drowning in work with no time for making new friends. In contrast, there were weeks where I was with my friends so much and fell behind on my work. Over time though, I learned a few things that really helped me find my balance.
Front Loading: Like many others in this world, my favorite part of the week is Thursday-Saturday. Because I know this about myself, I like to schedule my week to align with my productivity. I am the most productive at the beginning of the week. There’s something about my mood Sunday-Wednesday that makes me want to do work. I am in 16.5 credit hours this semester and have 4 classes Monday and Wednesday, 2 on Tuesday and Thursday, and 1 on Friday. This schedule aligns perfectly with my productivity; I do tons of work Sunday through Wednesday and plan most of my social activities Thursday through Saturday. I have found that front loading my academics has helped me find my ideal work-life balance.
Google Calendar: I am infamous amongst my friends for sending out Google Calendar invites for anything we plan. Lunch on Tuesday at 11:30? Sent! Lake walk and pickleball on Sunday at 12? Done. I live and die by my Google Calendar. I also use my calendar to set intentional break times vs work times. On Mondays at 10, I cut off my work for the day to go back to my quad and watch TV with my roommates. I also schedule when I’m going to workout each day, as I have found exercise really helps with my mental health. I try to go to a Beat Biking class at the Smith Center once a week with a friend. That hour I spend working out each day is a time where I get to prioritize myself. Whether through working out, hanging out with your friends, or taking a long shower, it is important as a busy college student to make time for yourself each day. My color coded Google Calendar really helps me find the balance between all the activities I participate in and my social life while at Notre Dame!
Listening to YOUR Needs: Often, college students get swept up in their to-do lists. Between homework, studying for exams, club commitments, volunteering, and the awesome opportunities Notre Dame offers, it’s difficult not to get overwhelmed and lost in the shuffle. I’ve learned that when I feel this sinking overwhelming feeling, to take a step back and listen to my body. Perhaps I cut off work for the night and return to my room to doom scroll on TIkTok for an hour. Or maybe I text my friend to ask if she wants to go on a lake walk with me. Maybe I can’t look at my Data Analytics Problem Set anymore, so I call my mom and hear about her week. Regardless, I have learned that it is important to keep things in perspective and listen to what my body wants and needs. There are things bigger than school, and you must prioritize yourself to find your balance.
Thursday Nights: Once the week weans down and the anticipation of another Irish win approaches, I notice that the campus mood lifts significantly. That mood includes the general vibe of my friend group. As a result, we’ve made it our mission and priority to block off our Thursday nights to do something. Whether that’s just going to dinner all together, hosting a movie night in our quad, going to the South Bend Cubs game, or baking cookies in the dorm, my friends all make sure to prioritize each other on Thursday nights! We have found that this is the perfect practice for keeping our social lives intact when we have so much else going on during the week. It also gets us excited for the weekend and lets us forget about any looming assignments, even if just for a few hours.
Overall, while it may be difficult to balance all of your commitments and a social life in college, it is something every student should find. There are strategies and resources you can use to find it (including my super awesome advice above). Just remember to prioritize your own health and preferred balance and you’ll be able to take advantage of the amazing 4 years at Notre Dame.