Budgeting your time: how to balance college, health and your social life

Republished from Still Life with Rose, February 22, 2023.

It can be tough learning what to prioritize and balance in your life, especially in college. You want to prioritize your education, but you also want the “college experience” you have always looked forward to.

It is the second semester of my freshman year of college, and I am still learning how to balance all of these things. It is different for every person, but I am sharing what I am trying to do myself.

The No. 1 priority for me is my health — physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc. Without good health, you cannot function the way you need to for college (or life in general).

For me, this looks like working out regularly, reading the Bible, taking mental health days if needed, getting enough sleep, drinking water, eating healthily.

Next, I prioritize school– this is the main point of college, to further your education.

This looks like doing homework, studying for tests and obviously trying to attend every class period. Unfortunately, this should take priority over the more “fun” parts of college.

After those things are finished, it’s time to have fun! My parents tell me that the things you learn in college socially are just as important as the educational part of it.

Being around people and having fun also makes your overall experience better. It can teach you how to develop as a person.

I believe that the key to all of this is spiritual health — I try to make it a priority of reading the Bible and praying every day. I believe it powers, informs and protects every other element I mentioned.

I would recommend starting with one Proverb for every day of the month.

Just as I mentioned how hydration and sleep are vital, I believe that reading the Bible and praying is even more vital. Drinking enough water and getting enough sleep are to the body what reading the Bible and praying are to the soul.

This sometimes is the hardest thing for me to prioritize because it does not bring immediate gratification as other things might but is ultimately the most vital thing you could do.