College can feel like a never-ending loop of studying, taking tests, then studying again — not to mention the added load of being in extracurriculars and completing homework and extra credit assignments, all while living in a relatively close proximity to the school. This cyclical pattern of constant work can be tiring and cause us to lose sight of something even more important: our life outside work. Work-life balance can be difficult to curate in American society, which seems to value a “hustle” culture above all else. But neglecting a personal life in favor of work is something that many people are starting to reject.
“When the same place you sleep is also the same place you start to study, it can feel hard to prioritize either one of those things,” said Madeline Shaw, mental health promotion coordinator at Healthyhorns. “What we know is that sleep is really essential to your overall well-being, and I think how that can be honored and prioritized is really critical and important.”
Part of the challenge that comes with maintaining a work-life balance in college isn’t just the struggle to go against an engrained hustle culture, it’s also about deciding what needs to be prioritized. It can be easy to neglect activities, like sleeping or hanging out with friends, in favor of a burgeoning homework assignment with an 11:59 p.m. deadline. However, creating a clear divide between your schoolwork and your personal life can contribute to your overall well-being.
“All the research shows that whenever we can take care of our well-being, it only actually supports our academic success,” Shaw said.
Having strategies in place to manage your time can create a level of organization in your life that allows you to focus on your life outside of school.
“Time management is a big one. … Research shows that college students typically need seven to nine hours of sleep every night to maintain (their) overall well-being,” Shaw said. “If you think about that and then try to work backwards, there are a variety of different ways each person may find those little tidbits and habits for how they might approach managing their academic priorities while also thinking about supporting their overall well-being.”
Shaw also referred to resources available on campus like CMHC and the Longhorn Wellness Center that can assist students with managing their time and implementing strategies to support their academic success and wellbeing.
Prioritizing our personal lives over just schoolwork can help us live in the moment, and appreciate what we have — not just what we’re working towards.
“It’s okay to not do five different assignments in one day just because you want to get them done in advance. It’s okay to be like, ‘I didn’t get to this today, so I’m going to get to it tomorrow’,” sociology freshman Aarushi Gulati said. “But also maybe focus on spending time with your friends and your loved ones, really giving time to your hobbies as well. With just focusing on classes or, again, work, you kind of … lose sight of the things that matter.”
Ultimately, prioritizing a work-life balance in college not only benefits our well-being, but has the potential to shift our culture from a “just work” mindset to a mindset that values our personal lives just as much.
Thomas is a government freshman from Frisco, TX.
