You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again. Life is all about balance!
If you’re heading to the hallowed halls of your new University in a few weeks, then you’re about to be faced with one of the biggest challenges of your young life: finding the right balance.
What do we mean by this?
Finding A Balance at University
You may think that your varsity days are for learning, but you can be sure that you will come away from these next few years with a lot more than academic learning. And this is a good thing.
University life offers the opportunity to meet an enormous cross-section of people, to try things your school wouldn’t dream of allowing, to form relationships, find and enjoy new hobbies, and almost certainly engage in some form of questionable behaviour.
While this sounds exciting, even a little overwhelming for some, we’d like to offer a word of caution.
It’s Not All About Study
You certainly need to put in a lot of effort into your studies – there’s no doubt about that. But if you spend the next four years behind a book then you will be missing out of all sorts of experiences which may never come your way again.
You will also likely suffer from depression, anxiety and burnout. Plan your study time in a quiet place to make the best use of your time, and then temper this brain-drain with some recreation, some time with friends, or doing something you love.
Watch Your Association
Meeting new people is a must! Learning new cultures, perspectives and opinions with an open mind will serve you well in the future. But, be careful who you spend your time with.
If your budding friendships are encouraging you to skip classes, drink heavily or party hard, then they are going to undo a lot of your hard work. Try to form relationships with people who share the same value system as you do – and be aware that they may be of a different nationality than you.
Try New Things
As mentioned at the outset, university is the best time to go on a bit of a journey of self-discovery. Try new sports, learn a hobby, volunteer, tutor others, and get out of your comfort zone.
The flip side of this coin is that you may get so involved with these fascinating interests that it affects your study time. Weigh up the time and cost to yourself before launching into something new but do try them.
Finding a balance during this fluid time of your life is not easy, but it is well worth it and offers amazing benefits once you get it right. All the best for your new year!