Five Tips To Prioritize Social Life and Study Time

By Maddie Medina

Probably one of the hardest parts about college is knowing how to manage the vast amount of “free time” handed to you. You don’t always have to go to class (but you should) and you don’t always have to study (depends on the class). Everything is almost smooth sailing academically until midterm season and finals, and that’s when you are deciding between hanging out with your friends on weekend nights or studying for your exam the following Monday. The decision can be hard to make, especially when everyone around you is acting belligerent but also everyone looks extremely happy. If you find yourself in that position, here are some ways to restrain yourself from partying.

1) Remember that you only have 2-3 midterms/papers/projects for every class. They each count as huge portions of your grade for the semester, and if grades mean anything to you, 20-30% of your grade will definitely make you worried. Holding off from drinking and any other activities you find yourself involved in on the weekends will pay off when you’re taking your exam and even more so when you receive your grade back (and you didn’t fail or almost passed!) and then you can do all of those weekend activities again. There is always next weekend after your exams are done, or next Monday night after your exam, or both. Whichever you prefer.

2) Let your friends know. They probably won’t remember your exam because who remembers anyone else’s priorities in college, but it will ease the guilt when it’s Friday or Saturday and they’re begging you to go out with them. When they do remember and when you let them know how important this exam is for you, they’ll make sure to avoid tempting you. If they are good friends, they’ll wish you luck on studying and make sure everyone else knows about your horrible weekend too.

3) Study in moderation. Don’t cram that weekend. You will only feel more stressed and lonely when you are sitting in the cold library on a Saturday night (unless your library closes early like mine you’ll be in your room where you can definitely hear people pre-gaming) knowing there is absolutely no way you will even think about just going out for a bit. And that only makes you unhappier. However, if it’s too late and you’re reading this before the upcoming weekend, at least go to class this week while you can. Sitting there even half asleep will be helpful in time for the exam. At some point in the lecture, you will absorb something.

4) Set goals and take breaks. Have timed goals, such as “I will finish taking notes on this chapter by 5:00 PM”, and if you reach that goal reward yourself with a snack, a text message, checking Facebook, etc. Don’t completely shut yourself off from the world on the weekend, but if that helps you the most then you probably don’t need this article, just a reassurance that you can do it!

5) Lastly, if you really must go out with your friends or significant other, use that time as your break. Once again, don’t cram, but you should study all day until nighttime. Don’t wake up at 2 PM on the weekends and expect to go out that night too. Always compromise with yourself and remember that that night may mean nothing to you in a couple of weeks, months or years, but that grade will definitely still be there. And if these tips don’t help, always ask yourself what matters more to you and know the consequences of your actions. But sometimes refusing your responsibilities in college can be worth it. We’re here to test our limits, right?

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