How to Balance School and Social Time

By eHow Education Editor

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Being a good student doesn't mean you have to drop everything else. It's possible to have a healthy social life while earning good grades. It's all about balance, young grasshopper.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Decide for yourself at the start of the term that you won't let schoolwork sweep you away. It's important to have this resolve as a foundation.
Step2
Plot out your weekly schedule on a grid. Chances are, you'll have small gaps between classes during the week, and longer stretches of free time on the weekends.
Step3
Focus in on those small gaps, and highlight them on your grid: It's here that you can do bits of schoolwork, leaving the larger weekend gaps free.
Step4
Set aside at least one large chunk of time each week for free time - maybe all of Saturday, for instance.
Step5
Make sure that every time you find yourself in one of those between-class gaps, you use the time efficiently: Read a few pages, run some quick errands, spell-check your paper.
Step6
Keep in mind the law of diminishing returns. Past a certain point, studying harder will yield little. You're better off using that time to hang out with friends.
Step7
Consider making rituals out of your transitions between school and social time - some people need this. Maybe just a walk around the block will do the trick. You're a student when you start your walk; you're a person when you return.
Step8
Encourage your friends to follow a similar plan, so you can coordinate your free time with theirs.

Tips & Warnings

  • Protect both your free time and your school time religiously. If you start to infringe on either, it's a long, slippery slope downward.
  • Whenever possible, find social activities that take you off campus and away from your schoolwork.

Comments

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kcirtap said

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on 4/24/2007 I never have to study out side of school unless I don't get the lesson. I have figured out after talking to differen't people that the ones that study rarely do better than people who just pay attention during class, and the ones who don't study are a lot happier with their social lives, lol trust me.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 To get out of your dorm room and socialize, it may help to find a club you like. Doing club activities can take up some of your free time without really taking away from your studies. They can also be fun. To find a club you like you should ask friends or acquaintances if they're in any clubs and join with them. This can keep your interest in the club, and make it better to be in. This was my experience last year, and it was worth it.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Look at your watch and tell yourself that you are going to study for 15 minutes. During that time, find something you like about it. When you start thinking about something else, remember that you just discovered something you like about history and if you study a little bit more, you'll get that out of it plus the added reward of a better grade. Also, if there are outside conflicts, they won't be as pleasurable to think about so you can shut them out quicker.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Don't stay up late "cramming." Go to bed early and get up earlier than your normal time. You will be fresher, learn more and retain more than when you were falling asleep over your books.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 A wise aunt of mine told me to plan your social life around your responsibilities (school, work). Too often I found myself missing class to go out with friends - therefore accomplishing less. This tip also makes a more responsible and committed person.

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eHow Article:  How to Balance School and Social Time

eHow Education Editor

eHow Education Editor

Category: Education

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