Balancing Your Social Life
and Academics in College
In college, balancing your social life and academics is one of the biggest challenges you will face. It’s an exciting time full of new opportunities, but it can also feel overwhelming as you adjust to a new environment, coursework, and social scene. Here are some tips for how to navigate this new and exciting journey!
Prioritize Your Time and Set Clear Goals
College often offers more freedom than high school, which means you need to be proactive about managing your time. Block out time for studying, class, social activities, and self-care. Having both short-term and long-term goals for your academics and social life can help you stay accountable. For example, aim for a specific grade in a course or commit to attending a social event once a week. Having goals helps you stay focused and organized.
Be Realistic About Your Energy Levels and Don’t Overcommit Socially
College life can be hectic, and sometimes you’ll need to choose between going out and resting. Listen to your body and avoid pushing yourself too hard. It’s okay to skip a social event if you’re feeling exhausted or need to catch up on schoolwork. If you have a big test coming up, prioritize studying, but reward yourself with a social break after meeting your academic goal.
Quality over quantity: It can be tempting to say “yes” to every social event, but spreading yourself too thin can lead to burnout. Whether it’s weekends, specific evenings, or after finishing a major assignment, plan your social activities so they don’t conflict with your study time.
Down Time
Use your time wisely and maximize small chunks of time. College days can be unpredictable, so it’s important to maximize your productivity during downtime. On the bus? Don’t stare aimlessly out the window, review those flashcards you made for your test. On the plane ride home for fall break? Get those reading assignments out of the way!
You’d be surprised how much these little moments add up and give you more time to prioritize your social life.
Having an ample amount of time for your social life also largely depends on utilizing your academic time wisely. You need to find study methods and homework schedules that allow you to retain the most information in an efficient way.
Everyone is different so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all for study methods. However, one that can be effective is called the Pomodoro Technique. This is a time management method that involves working in 25-minute intervals, followed by short breaks, to help maximize focus. Here’s how to do it:
Choose a task to complete
1. Set the timer for 25 minutes
2. Work until the time rings
3. Take a short break (5 minutes)
4. Repeat this process until the task is completed
5. Once the task is completed, take a longer break of 15-20 minutes and choose a new task
Trying out different study methods is a great way to find what works for you.
Combine Your Social Life and Academic Pursuits
Let us explain. Talking to others about what you’re studying and studying with other people can actually improve memory retention. Both activities activate different learning mechanisms and can make the material stick more effectively.
The best way to do this is to build a study group or find academic partners. Studying with your peers can make those long library sessions much more bearable (and even fun!) The key? You actually have to talk about what you’re studying and not about the latest drama. (Ugh, we know!)
Self Care
To have the bandwidth to be an excellent student and a supportive friend, you do need to take care of yourself first. Do this by making time for yourself! Go on a walk, take a long shower, read your favorite book, etc. Taking time for these activities helps reduce stress, improve focus, and boosts your mood. This makes you more present and engaged in your studies and more patient, understanding, and supportive in your relationships. It’s about taking care of yourself so you can show up as your best self in all areas of life.
You can take the time to do small activities to take care of yourself everyday. It can be as simple as doing your skincare routine or as big as taking a solo weekend trip.
Stay Organized
A lot of students reading this have likely used a planner, calendar, or some sort of organizational tool before. But how many of you write down every due date, class, office hour, etc. the second you hear about it?
Determine what organizational structure works best for you. Some of our students love using Notion to schedule out their homework assignments and class schedules, while others need to write it down in a physical planner. Find what works best for you and stick to it.
Staying organized is the easiest way to reduce stress in school and set yourself up for success. Plus, knowing that the fun outing with your friends next month is happening on the same weekend your big economics project is due can help you plan in advance.
Pick the Right Social Activities
See, while prioritizing your social life is important, not all social activities are created equal. Finding activities and people that fulfill your social needs while actually reducing stress can make the rest of your life stressful too! Let us explain.
Being friends with people who share similar hobbies can often feel more rewarding than prioritizing going out on the town. Shared interests create stronger connections and give you meaningful ways to spend time together, leading to deeper friendships. These kind of friendships are also more supportive and fulfilling, helping your grow personally and academically, rather than just engaging in temporary, surface-level fun.
Surrounding yourself with people who push you to be the best version of yourself can help propel you further in life. For example, if you love reading try seeing if a local bookstore hosts a book club. If you want to get outside more, there’s likely a walking or running club in your area.
FOMO
We’ve all been there, you are staying home watching TV or studying in the library and suddenly your phone is full of a seemingly never-ending highlight reel of people having the time of their life.
But that’s all it is, a highlight reel! You can have the most perfectly planned out schedule and then see your roommate going out and suddenly your plan is out the window. FOMO doesn’t just go away, but here’s how you can manage it.
The biggest tip we can give you is to limit social media. There’s nothing more discouraging than watching 100 Instagram stories of people out dancing while you’re doing practice exams in the library. So, put your phone on silent and stop letting yourself get lost in your socials.
Another key factor is your mindset. Instead of thinking, “oh no, poor me, everyone’s having fun and I’m not” try thinking “Wow, I’m so proud of myself. I could’ve gone out and not studied for this exam but I didn't. Now I’m that much closer to reaching my goals and becoming the most successful version of myself.”
If you’re struggling, practice some logical thinking. The event is almost never as fun as it looks on social media and there will always be more you can attend in the future. Also, social media makes you feel like everyone is doing something and you’re the only one sitting at home. This is never the case! There are so many people in your life that are chilling at home or at the library just like you, they just aren’t posting it on social media as much so you can’t see it. Remember your goals and visualize physically stepping over this obstacle to get closer to achieving them.
Be Kind to Yourself
Don’t aim for perfection. It’s normal to feel like you’re not doing enough or struggling to balance everything. Be patient with yourself and give yourself grace. You’re learning and adapting, and it takes time to master the balance between academics and social life.
Celebrate small wins. Whether it’s doing well on a test, attending a social event, or simply having a productive study session, take time to acknowledge your accomplishments. It’ll help you feel more motivated and confident.
We’ll leave you with these final thoughts: College is a time to grow academically and socially, and finding the right balance takes trial and error. Prioritize your academic goals while also allowing yourself to enjoy the freedom and experiences that come with the college social scene. As you adjust, you’ll learn to balance both aspects of college life in a way that feels sustainable and fulfilling.
Prioritize Your Time and Set Clear Goals
College often offers more freedom than high school, which means you need to be proactive about managing your time. Block out time for studying, class, social activities, and self-care. Having both short-term and long-term goals for your academics and social life can help you stay accountable. For example, aim for a specific grade in a course or commit to attending a social event once a week. Having goals helps you stay focused and organized.