How to find balance with a hectic schedule

It can be difficult to balance school, family, friends, work and all the other obligations of life. Here are 6 things that you can do to help you find the balance you need.

1. Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is key to being successful and being able to function efficiently. The national sleep foundation recommend 7-9 hours for 18-64 year olds. Some people function better on different amounts of sleep so it is important to know what your body needs and to stick to a routine. A study done on college students showed that irregular sleep or lack of enough sleep had a negative effect on their academic performance.

2. Eat a clean diet

Eating well is essential to having enough energy throughout the day. Eating processed foods will make you feel sluggish and tired. High fat and sugary foods tend to do the same. It is important to eat food that your body can break down properly so that it can use the nutrients as fuel to keep you going. A study by UCLA showed that these foods also led to decreased performance and a lack of motivation. This shows that not only is it important to fuel your body but eating well can also help you perform better at school.

3. Exercise often

It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising often. The general recommendation is 3-4 times a week. Sometimes it can be hard to get to the gym, but there are other options. There are many other activities you can do, like go for short walk, ride your bike around the block or even put on a YouTube video for a quick workout. Any activity to get your body moving is a good start. The endorphins will put you in a better mood, and you’ll feel ready to tackle the next task.

4. Take a break

Never forget to take a moment for yourself, even if it’s just for a few minutes. This could be through mediation, prayer, writing or just sitting quietly for a moment and reflecting. It is important to take time to re-focus on what is important and prioritize. These moments can also help keep you sane during periods of chaos.

5. Make time for friends and family

It is extremely important that you take care of your mental health. This means scheduling in time for relationships even when things are busy. It’s crucial to have people around you to share your burdens and your joys. They can also be a great source of strength and support. This means maintaining the relationships in person, not just through social media or texting. It can be easy to loose touch with people when things get busy but to help increase happiness and decrease loneliness it is necessary to nourish these relationships. This doesn’t mean you need a huge circle of friends, as it is a matter of quality not quantity.

6. Stay organized

To balance everything you must stay on top of your work, plan ahead and manage your time wisely. So instead of binge watching half a season of Suits on Netflix, use that time to make a schedule. This is where you can plan out when all of your assignments are due and tests will take place. Additionally you can put in your shifts for work, time to spend with friends, time for yourself and anything else you need. This allows you to plan ahead to get all of your work done, in turn allowing for you to get the right amount of sleep. When all of your obligations are  scheduled in, there is more time for fun and leisure.