Stress management

By: Abhishek Agarwal
College and university years are some of the best years of a person's life. It is in these years hat there are surplus activities, piles of responsibilities and obligations and a number of people and personalities to befriend.

Entering college does not mean that you must forsake making new friends for studies. If your aim is to finish your college successfully and become a professional in the field of your choice, it is extremely important to make new acquaintances. They can be a great help in the accomplishment of your goals.

It is your new friends who will understand the pressures and frustrations of being a college student. They can help you with project perspectives and lecture notes. They can also suggest great ways of getting rid of stress.

But this does not mean you need to spend all your time at social functions, hanging out with them. You need a time management plan to manage your life between college work and social activities, while keeping track of your most important goals.

New friends imply new social commitments and more to add to your list of schedules and important dates. If you are unable to set up an efficient time management plan, you could end up drifting from one social activity to another. It will continue that way up till a point where you do not have enough time to concentrate on your lectures and assignments.

New friends in college almost always implies interruptions and putting off activities on your schedule.

Here are a few tips on time management to ensure you do not head off on the path of destruction due to jovial abandon and carelessness.

1. Use a time chart for finding the best suitable time for different activities. As a college student, you will have many challenges regarding time management; you will need a disciplined track of managing time. Fixed classes and the free time between each is one of the special time features of college life. Getting sufficient rest and socializing time is also an aspect of college time management.

You will require a time chart to avoid being held up due to less important activities. You need to add some structure to your schedule. Base your time chart on the different activities that you have to attend to.

This time chart can help you determine the time when your mental concentration is at its best. You can schedule the study hours for your difficult tasks during these times.

Once you write off these hours, you will know that these hours cannot be used for other activities. If any social invitations come up during these hours, you should politely decline.

2. Do not give in to over-choice. There are many activities to choose from for a college student. But sometimes one gets more inclined towards a particular activity irrespective of its bearing on their ultimate goal. Even if it involves meeting new people, the activities that compel you to lose site of your priorities are not worth pursuing.

3. Every time you pursue an activity, such as going out with friends, excessively, you are rejecting all your other options that are available to you during that time.

With significant interaction with new people, you can successfully function as a college student. However, ensure you do not overdo it. You should always remember the time management tips for balancing all your activities and achieving your goals.