For most college students, staying on top of academics is a major priority, but each year of school, you may have a different goal. For example, during your freshman year, your goal might be to learn more about yourself and the career pathways available to you. If that’s the case, you will need to have experiences that inform these areas of thinking. It might not just be academic experiences that help you narrow your major. You might want to try out a club or an on-campus job that gives you a taste of a career you are considering.
One of the best parts of the college experience is having full control of your schedule. No parents or caregivers tell you how to spend your time. You get to pick where you invest the hours of your day. But it also means no one is going to wake you up for class or tell you when to go to bed. At meals, you won’t have a built-in group of people gathering around a table. The amazing flexibility can feel like freedom and loneliness at the same time. Knowing how to manage your academics, social life, extracurricular activities and work all at once takes practice. Keep reading to learn the best strategies for balancing social life with college academics and responsibilities.
PRIORITIZE
Managing your time begins with knowing what matters most, and what matters most isn’t the same for every student. Think through your goals for what a healthy, thriving college experience looks like. Ask yourself, “At the end of the semester/week/day, what is it I want to have accomplished?”
HEALTHY SUCCESS
One of the most common struggles college students face, however, is prioritizing the things that aren’t social or academic. Sleep, healthy eating and exercise frequently fall to the bottom of the priority list. But here’s the reality: If you are sick or if you aren’t taking care of yourself, you won’t be able to reach the other goals you’ve set.
In a culture that highly values productivity, many adults struggle with burnout and severe fatigue. Recent research suggests one in three adults does not get enough sleep. At age 18, seven hours or more is the suggested amount of sleep, and the consequences of not sleeping can seriously impact your goals. Research indicates that a lack of sleep not only affects your mental and physical health, but it can inhibit your executive function and cognitive abilities. Just imagine, you are staying up super late to study, but ultimately, you are harming your ability to think straight. Take sleep seriously!
TAKE STOCK
Once you know your goals for the semester, start by planning out what you will do regularly every week. If you are committed to certain clubs or teams, make sure to include all the commitments in your weekly schedule. Whether you write it on paper, in a calendar or in a digital space, take stock of every class and social responsibility. Will you attend a worship service or organized religion? Include it. Does your dorm have regular hall activities? Include that, too. Do you have work or chores to do like laundry? Really think about it all. Typically, in higher education, you should expect two to three hours of homework per class hour. Add that into your schedule too until you know how long the work takes you.
Next, write your healthy goals into your schedule. Write down when you typically plan to wake up and go to bed. Write down when you plan to exercise, shower and prepare your meals. It might feel excessive at the beginning, but you will come to realize the small everyday things you need to do take up more time than you realize.
If you look at the schedule, and there is already not enough time in the day for everything, you know that you need to pare down. Or if you have a lot of free time, estimate how much time you have and whether you can take on something else. Make sure to leave margin and downtime. A schedule with no blank space is definitely unrealistic.
Once you have your weekly blueprint for a semester, you should be able to incorporate specific activities into these spaces weekly. Begin each week by taking stock of the days ahead. For example, your required class readings or assignments due dates, and the work required to complete them, should fit your blueprint. Here is a link to a sample map/blueprint for the week from Berry’s Academic Success Center.
THE SKILL OF ESTIMATION
One of the most difficult skills to learn in college is the ability to accurately estimate the length of time tasks and responsibilities will take. One trick is to break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. Remember: It’s okay to be wrong! You are never going to be able to perfectly estimate how long each task will take. Instead of holding yourself to an impossible standard, build in some flexible time to finish lingering tasks.
Here’s an example of how a student might better estimate the time it’s going to take them to turn in a paper. Rather than just writing “paper due Friday,” name the steps required to get there and schedule them in your study time. Now you have a better estimate of:
- Read last 50 pages (90 mins)
- Free write or outline (30 mins)
- First draft (3 hours)
- Visit Writing Center (1 hr)
- Final Draft (2 hrs)
TWO CHALLENGING YEARS
It is common for students to struggle the most in their freshman and junior years. Freshman year, the task of estimation is difficult. You are learning yourself and how you want to spend time, so you will make mistakes. You are adjusting to a new routine and time structure.
In sophomore year, many students find their stride, but heading into junior year, the end of college feels near. Students begin to fret, asking themselves, “Have I done enough? Do I know what my goals really are?”
As you get deeper into specific career paths and have more opportunities, it takes more time. Rather than testing a wide variety of opportunities, it’s more likely you will have commitments with depth, and depth requires more hours. For example, at Berry, many students have a signature learning experience during this time where they study abroad, invest in research or hold a significant leadership role. These opportunities often realign goals and take more planning, but recognizing this shift is coming and preparing will help you to keep your priorities straight.
Overall, the Berry Journey encourages students to see college as a season of learning about who you are, what energizes you, what challenges you and how to navigate those things well. Success comes not from filling every hour, but from choosing experiences that are meaningful and sustainable.
Balancing academics, extracurriculars and personal well-being in college is not about perfection. You will make mistakes. But with an intentional, thoughtful plan, you can make the most of your time. The freedom you gain in college comes with responsibility, and learning to prioritize and plan will set you up for success not just in college, but in life. Remember, the goal isn’t to fill every hour; it’s to create a meaningful rhythm that supports your growth and learning. Start small, stay flexible and give yourself grace as you learn what works best for you.
