It can be hard to do all the things we need to get done while still feeling sane. Some of us are full time students, moms, daughters, sons, employees, you name it! So how do we handle living a fulfilling life while still getting everything done!? Balancing life isn’t easy, but it can be done and really comes down to two main things: your priorities and your time. Here are some ways I balance my life and tips that can help you balance yours too!
Here are some related posts below that will help you get your life in check!
What are your priorities?
Start by making a list of your priorities and go from there. Maybe you prioritize your schoolwork, your relationships with friends or family, or self-care. Whatever it is, make sure you know your priorities. Priorities can also be things you enjoy such as baking, watching a movie, exercising, or reading. These things can still be priorities, but it’s all about the time you dedicate towards them. Yes, it’s great to enjoy a movie, but it’s not always a smart thing to do when you’ve got a test you should be studying for instead. To put it simply don’t get rid of the things that bring enjoyment to your life, rearrange them instead.
That’s why it’s just as important to be aware of how you’re spending your time. And now that you know your priorities, it’s time to manage time.
How do you spend your time?
Figure out what an average day in your life looks like, and ask yourself if it fits with your expectations. Are you spending your days doing things you love? Are you spending your days watching Netflix? Or maybe you are dedicating too much time in one area of your life and neglecting another.
Be honest with yourself about the time you spend on different areas of your life. Obviously, if you’re working a 9-5 job or you’re a full-time college student, then the way you spend your time isn’t entirely up to you. But the key to balance is to dedicate specific times towards your priorities and things you enjoy.
A great way to make sure you’re getting your priorities done while still allowing time for enjoyment is time blocking. Say you normally go to class around 9am, and realistically you spend about 2-3 hours in the library during the day. But you still want to spend time with your friends. Try blocking out your day to allow time for all of the things you want to do. An example of time blocking can be seen below.
9am-9:50: Anatomy lab
10am-10:50: Statistics lecture
11am-2pm: Library Study Session
2pm-5pm: Hang out with friends
Essentially you’re dedicating a specific time of day or “block” to doing a certain activity. With time blocking, you’re doing what makes you happy while still getting your main priorities done.
Bonus Tips
Write things down: Try writing your schedule down in a planner. This way you know ahead of time what lies ahead of you. If you need a new planner click here to get one of my layouts. I’ve created an Academic Planner specifically made for students that includes a monthly planner, a weekly planner, assignment tracker, and much more. There are also two more undated designs, so you can easily customize it to your desired date.
Fuel your body: Properly fueling your body can ensure you have enough strength to get through the day.
Coffee: Not really a tip but it’s great for an extra boast. Plus, I love the taste.
It’s time to Get Balanced
I’ll be honest as a college student, I’m not the best at balancing my life at times. I tend to get carried away with my classwork and completely forget about my life passing me by. So, what I’m saying is, not every day or season of your life is going to be perfectly balanced. Sometimes you’ll find yourself having a perfect system between all of your priorities and enjoyments, and sometimes you won’t. However, what’s most important is realizing when your life starts to get off balance and setting it back on track.
What are some things you do to keep balance in your life?
xo, Katie Mariah
Great blog post !! Getting your priorities straight & looking at your time schedule is really important ! 🙂
Thank you! I totally agree!