Busy Doesn’t Mean Stressed

This is a guest post by Shelby Austin for Student Stories. 

Busy Doesn’t Mean Stressed

We live in a world where unfortunately having a college degree is rarely enough. Students now need internships, extracurricular activities, and money, on top of their already daunting education endeavors, to succeed in life. But how does one manage such a busy schedule?

While all my friends are relaxing and enjoying their summer days, I’m busy attending meetings, sending emails, and writing press releases. To cope with the endless multitasking that is my life, I have discovered a few things that make managing such a crazy schedule a little less stressful and a lot less crazy.

The real secret is coffee, but here are a few other things you can try:

1. Become a morning person.

There is no better time to get stuff done than in the early hours of the morning. Enjoy some coffee, write your to do list, and set the tone for the rest of the day. I swear by the adage, “Life is waking up an hour early, to live an hour more.”

2. Keep a planner.

It is absolutely essential to stay organized when juggling so many summer activities. I also keep an updated Google Calendar, a phone calendar, and a to-do list. Maybe I’m an overly organized, lover of calendars, but having a tangible product of organization can only make your life easier.

3. Set aside time for yourself.

Make time every day to focus on you. Whether it is to meditate, run, or read, there is no better way to relieve stress than to just step back and relax. Make time for whatever it may be that gives your mind a break from all the stress. It helps if you schedule that time in your calendar or set a reminder for it.

4. Know when enough is enough.

It’s okay to say no. You may feel like you’ll disappoint your boss, but you need to be aware of your limit; it is much better to finish a few tasks completely than to haphazardly leave an array of tasks unfinished.

5. Maintain a close relationship with your boss.

This is key. If you have a good relationship with your boss, he or she will understand when you are unable to take on an additional task and will more than likely help you if you need assistant. They will also have plenty of advice and be key connections in the future.

Although it is tempting to relax and do nothing the entire summer, my sacrifice for internships and learning opportunities have furthered my professional skill set outside of what traditional education could have provided. Never did I  imagine how much I have succeeded in such a small window of time. I was able to add two internships, two part time jobs, and two executive board positions to my resume, all before my junior year.  So don’t be afraid to do more. If you feel like you are capable of taking on additional tasks, do it. Now is the time to test your limits.

Author Bio:

Shelby Austin is a Public Relations major at Ferris State University. She is currently the social media intern for the Ferris State College of Business as well as the event-planning intern for the Eastown Community Association. Currently, Shelby is the Vice President of Internal Relations of her PRSSA chapter.  In her free time, she loves drinking coffee, practicing yoga, and reading. Follow her on twitter at @shelbybreanne or email her at sbaustin9@yahoo.com.