Balancing College Life: A Guide For DU Freshers

When we look at social media, we see people having fun, we see daily hangouts in cafes, but what people don't post is the high challenges faced by college students as they transition from school to college. One of the major challenges is time management. I mean, imagine spending most of your college life traveling, doing assignments, and maintaining attendance – this is nobody’s dream college life.

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General Problems Faced By The Freshers -

• The travel times make college life hard and rigorous 

• Moving away from family takes up an emotional tool

• The sudden independence confuses them and they feel burdened with a lot of responsibilities

• Making friends seems hard because you can't seem to get along with new people very well

• You feel bombarded with various application forms

• Sometimes you miss the deadlines or are rejected by the society you want to get into

As a college student, navigating academia, social relationships, and personal growth can be overwhelming. Balancing college life requires effective time management, self-care, and strategic prioritization. Let's get a glimpse of the topic –

✧ What Is Time Management?

Time management is the adequate and appropriate distribution of your time among the activities you want to do and the ones you must complete.

Time is a resource that affects our personal, professional, and social life.

Management of time is very important for proper balance among these three aspects of life.

✧ Importance Of Time Management As Freshers

As freshers we want to be involved in many extracurricular activities while also doing academic work and having a social life. 

It is not easy to manage all that which is why, freshers must learn to prioritize and balance.

Failure of time management results in missed deadlines inability to finish assignments on time and missing out on fun events and opportunity.

✧ How To Manage Time?

• Prioritize and classify your needs and wants. 

• Set realistic goals for yourself and take planned steps towards achieving those goals.

• Attendance is important and so is social networking – make friends, acquaintances, and mutual.

• Try maintaining 80% attendance per month, every class & use the free time in between classes for networking through colleges.

• Create a schedule and seek help when required.

• Create a balance between your academic and social life.

• Prioritize yourself – exercise meditation, self-care, and good food. 

• Learn to relax and not over-exert yourself, hydrate yourself. 

• Earn to say No and create your own boundaries.

• Make timetables and reminder notes on the phone.

• GET ENOUGH SEEP

Here are some techniques you can use for Time Management –

Pomodoro Technique -

This Time Management method encourages focused work and regular breaks. Here's how it works: 

1) Firstly, choose a task that you wish to complete.  

2) Set a timer for 25 minutes (this acts as a Pomodoro). 

3) Work on the task with maximum concentration until the timer rings. 

4) Take a five-minute break.

5) Once you have completed four Pomodoro's, take a more extended break of around 15-30 minutes.

The 80/20 Rule -

Focus on 20% of tasks that yield up to 80% results.

This is also known as the Pareto Principle.

In time management, this means:

- Focus on vital few tasks (20%) that yield significant results (80%)

- Eliminate or delegate less productive tasks

Example: 2 hours of focused study (20%) might yield better results than 10 hours of distracted study (80%). Prioritize high-impact tasks for maximum efficiency.

Eisenhower Matrix -

This matrix was popularized by Stephen Covey and named after former US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

In this, we divide tasks into four quadrants: urgent & important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, not urgent or important.  

Steps for this technique -

1. Write down tasks.

2. Evaluate urgency and importance.

3. Plot tasks on the matrix.

4. Act accordingly (Do, Schedule, Delegate, or Eliminate) 

This will help you in attaching priority and urgency levels in front of your tasks.

The Two-Minute Rule -

The Two-Minute Rule is a technique that includes handling small tasks promptly. The aim is to deal with any task that can be completed in two minutes or less. Minute tasks are what end up being a burden in the end. This technique will help us avoid that, will encourage efficiency, and prevent procrastination. 

Other Steps To Indulge In Are:

CREATING A SCHEDULE -

Make a schedule that works for you Always remember to add all that you want to do and what you need to do. Beyond that don't feel the need to copy other's timetables or schedules because what matters to them might not cater to you.

MAKE A CALENDAR -

Make use of the calendar app on your phone Write short crisp and important details about events and assignments that are due. You can note them down in diaries, planners as well as digital calendars.

FIND A PEER GROUP -

Having a peer group is very important as it will help you adjust and navigate situations better friends always help, be it in reducing stress or be it adjusting to new places. 

REVIEW AND ADJUST -

1. Regularly evaluate your schedule and habits

2. Adjust your approach as needed

3. Celebrate successes and learn from setbacks

Conclusion

Appreciate what you have and be grateful! Believe in yourself while also discovering different versions of yourself. College life is just the beginning of the independent life that we run behind ever since we were kids. View adulthood as the means of making yourself and your parents proud. Don’t be shy, don’t be ashamed, and do not hesitate. Make mistakes, explore different fields, make a bucket list, enhance your skills, meet new people, make connections, and experience moments that will one day be fond memories. Learn more and more beyond your degree find your strengths and weaknesses and don’t stress.

Always remember, that embarrassment is temporary, and regret is permanent.

And one thing you will regret is not enjoying this time of your life.

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