I’m a full time engineering student right now and I feel like I’m just going nuts right now. I’m unemployed right now being supported by my parents. I study literally ALL day till my brain just can’t do it anymore. I don’t workout and stay healthy anymore. I’m inside all day or sitting in a classroom so I tend to feel sluggish. Social life is taking a complete dive right now too. I’ve been in high stress situations before but this college thing is new to me. Any advice on managing time? Feel like if I don’t have a release soon I’m going to break. Semester has 4 more weeks left and then I’m going summer two weeks after that.
Hi! I’ve definitely been there, towards the ends of a tough semester you can feel like you’re giving up. I don’t know the specifics of your situation but I can tell you how I manage my time during the school year.
I’m really big on creating schedules and lists, so when I feel like the semester is starting to catch up with me I take about an hour and sit down and list everything (and I mean everything) I have to do. I keep track of the things I need to do, including every assignment, test, and project I have for classes, and the things I want to do. Then I set out a plan making a complete schedule doing my best to fit in all of those things.
If you genuinely are studying all day, you probably aren’t doing yourself many favors. I get more done if I schedule myself to go to the library and get work done rather than staying home and studying. I give myself a set amount of time to get a set amount of tasks done that way I am not just aimlessly looking through my class notes.
In terms of your social life, and feeling healthy, that’s definitely not easy when you’re overwhelmed with work. I like to ask a friend to go with me to the library so I at least get a little bit of social time in between work. I’ll also do small 15-30 minute workouts after I’ve done an hour of studying to give myself a break and help me re-energize to continue.
Anyway, that’s the way I try to manage my time. The biggest thing is just having a plan and seeing what I need to get done and rewarding myself with an hour or so of something I want to do. Having those little things to look forward to can make it easier to get through a tough semester. I hope this was helpful! If not, let me know if there are any specifics of your situation you’re struggling with and maybe I could come up with some ideas to help you out.