College, Chaos, and Conquering It: It's Okay To Be Busy

One piece of advice I wish I had gotten before college is that it’s okay to be busy.

I often find myself overwhelmed with my schedule and wondering if I can continue to do everything I’m doing. The short answer is yes, I can. And you can, too. Here are some things I’ve learned over a very busy past two years at Auburn that got me through the hectic weeks I never thought I’d see the end of.  

One thing I always heard my senior year of high school was that I needed to be involved on campus. My freshman year, this was a little hard to accomplish. I didn’t know much about organizations on campus and struggled to put myself out there. Luckily, finding my passion and switching my major opened so many opportunities for me to meet new people with the same interests as me. My one piece of advice regarding involvement on campus is DON’T BE SCARED TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE!!! Everyone is in the same boat you are, just trying to find new friends in an unfamiliar environment. Start the conversations. Get involved with people who share experiences. This will make it much easier to find your footing in college.

Now, being busy will come with its struggles. But stay with me and I’ll let you in on my secret successes from a nonstop schedule.

One of the biggest hardships I’ve faced this past year is my friends having open schedules and me always having something next on my to-do list. It’s isolating to not be able to hang out with friends or do the little things you enjoy. You finally get some freedom coming to college, and it’s hard not to be able to use that every day. However, I’ve learned ways to stay positive about it. The things I’ve gotten involved with are enjoyable for me, so most days it doesn’t even feel like a task to do them. I also have met some incredible people through the organizations I’ve joined, so even if I can’t hang out with my friends, I’m always surrounded by people who bring me joy. When you’re looking for things to get involved in, make sure they align with your interests and don’t feel draining.

A good reminder when loading up your schedule is that this is the perfect time to be stressed. As a freshman, I spent a lot of my time sitting on a couch watching TV. Then, I realized that the degree alone isn’t going to get me anywhere post-graduation. Many jobs look for people with experience and a passion for the work, which can’t be seen through an A in a class. So, next time you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself that everything you are doing now will help you succeed in the future.

Another big piece of advice I can give you is don’t shy away from a rigid schedule. With everything going on in my day-to-day, having a schedule that looks the same every week and rarely strays is super beneficial. Again, this could get boring if you are someone that likes to change it up, so make sure the things taking up your hours are things you enjoy doing. Having a busy schedule can get much easier if it’s properly organized, and you will face much less stress when you know what you are doing and when.

Temptation is another hardship I’ve faced in the last two years. Like I mentioned earlier, my friends have fairly open schedules, and sometimes it’s hard to say no when they ask me to do something. It’s important to stick to your schedule and hold yourself accountable when you aren’t able to participate in activities outside of school and involvement. The longer you stick to your schedule, the easier it will become to do it without a thought, and it almost becomes second nature.

As someone who has had a packed schedule for a while now, I think it’s safe to say that being busy is definitely hard, BUT it’s certainly possible. College is the only four years you get to gain experience in your major, so take advantage of the fact that you are young and have the years to make mistakes. Find things you enjoy and make them a part of your success. I’ll tell you what I always tell myself when I start to become overwhelmed:

It’s much better to be stressed than to be bored.

Be Well, Auburn.