Balancing books and playtime

We have heard countless times about the need to balance your life between school, work and being a socialite. 

School comes with homework, work comes with sleepless nights, and socializing comes with helping friends cope, making changes yourself and keeping track of where your friends and family are at in their lives.

School isn't always easy. The semesters seem to start the same; one class has optional homework whereas another has a wicked teacher who is out to get you. Once the semester trickles on, the "easy" class turns out to be hardest, and the wicked teacher reveals himself as a down-to-earth guy.

You've got to remember that just because the homework is optional, it still needs to be done or you will probably fall behind like so many people do. Keep in contact with your professors and any students that you meet in class to try to keep up with what is going on.

The next ball in the juggling act would be work. A lot of students have a full time school load as well as a part, or full, time job. Quite a few of those students work at restaurants where they probably don't get off until really late at night or even in the early hours of the morning. Any homework that they had to do is probably long gone out of their mind by now, and the only thing they want is their bed.

Late hours of work can make it hard for someone to focus on school. You've got to find the time for your homework whether it's in between classes or on your break at work. School should be your number one priority because if you're really serious about your degree, when you fail your classes, you're just going to have to retake them.

Relationships with people, whether it be friends or family, are important. It is necessary to have someone to talk to when you're feeling down, or when you need advice. 

Some people claim that they are fine having no friends, but those people must not have ever had any or they wouldn't say that. It's true, some of my friends annoy the heck out of me at some point each day, but nonetheless, I realize how lucky I am to have them in my life.

When school and work are already crowding your plate, socializing with friends may be a difficult serving to add on. People can tell when you're busy and stressed, but at the same time, when they are always texting or calling you but never hear back, that is probably not going to be okay for them. Friends need attention. It isn't ok to ditch your girlfriends for your new beau, or ditch the guys to constantly have your new trophy draped over your shoulder. Friends are there through thick and thin and need some attention sometimes.

When it comes down to it, you need to seriously sit and consider what the most important thing to do at this point in time is. If you have a big project due next week, you're off work for the day, and your friends invite you to Daytona, which should be done first? Pick and choose what matters and what doesn't. If you do choose Daytona, try to do your homework on the way and have someone else drive. Or, if you're a procrastinator, just be sure you are prepared for everything the project calls for before putting it off for so long. 

There is a way to balance all you've got going on in your life, you just have to realize what it is for you.