Students blog

Class at 8 a.m., E-board meeting at 3 p.m., volunteering at 5 p.m., meeting with members at 7 p.m., study session at 9 p.m., and homework due at 11 p.m. Does this schedule sound familiar?

As students, it's easy to get caught up in trying to “make the most” of the college experience. Your college years offer the chance to explore new things and discover who you are.

While this is a great opportunity to discover the many clubs and activities college has to offer, it can become overwhelming. In this article, I reflect on my decisions about getting involved on campus. I’ll help you discover ways to maintain balance and be intentional with your time.

During my sophomore year, I was heavily involved in organizations at school. When I began to feel overwhelmed, I realized I had to sit back, assess my situation, and ask myself the following three questions.

1. Is This Helping or Harming Me?

While representing my school was important, I had to understand that my mental health was just as important. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, signs that you might be overwhelmed include tension, uneasiness, and lack of sleep. [1]

As you participate in clubs and organizations, consider if they are benefiting you. Are you choosing organizations that can help your future career or develop valuable, long-term skills?

2. Am I Choosing Quality Over Quantity?

It can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of busywork. When I was in more than six organizations, I realized I couldn't give one hundred percent to each one. I couldn't make time for myself or provide quality service to those around me.

I realized that doing this meant I wasn’t properly serving my community, friends, classmates, and associates. This meant I had to re-evaluate which organizations I was putting the most time into and commit to them.

3. What Can I Realistically Do?

After asking myself the first two questions, I realized I was overwhelmed and not giving my all to my organizations. I knew something had to be done.

I started by determining which organizations best aligned with my passions and future aspirations. When I narrowed those down, I was able to participate in four organizations on campus!

I took it a step further by prioritizing my time in those organizations. I created daily schedules for my work, schoolwork, and organizational duties. I found that participating in the things I enjoyed made me less likely to get overwhelmed.

Feeling overwhelmed by extracurriculars is common, but it doesn’t have to be your reality. Ask yourself if your commitments are helping, focus on quality, and create a plan. This way, you can make the most of your college experience without burning out.

[1] National Institute of Mental Health. I’m So Stressed Out! Infographic. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/so-stressed-out-infographic.

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