5 Ways to Balance School with Fun Fall Activities

The fall can be one of the most stressful times of year if you’re coming off of a relaxing summer vacation. Balancing new classes, finding time for extracurriculars, and possibly working a part-time job mean that sometimes it’s hard to still be able enjoy the cooler weather. Here are some tips to find time for both fun and still be successful academically!

Use a Planner

One of the most essential parts of planning out my day is my planner. Without it, I would be totally lost because I wouldn’t know what time I had an appointment or meeting. I have seen other people use their smartphones, but writing it down helps me to remember my commitments better. Lilly Pulitzer has a he selection of cute ones with lots of room to write down all your events. Staying organized this way helps me toknow the exact times that I am free to hang out with my friends, or schedule a fall visit from my family.

Make a List

Using your planner, making a list of all your to-dos will help you out so you can accomplish all your tasks at once, then still have time for a Pumpkin Spice Latte date with a friend. If you don’t write down the to-dos, it is much harder to remember everything you have to do.

Multi-task Successfully

Try combining your obligations with fun. For example, go outside and sit on a park bench to enjoy the weather while you study. This way you can still appreciate the cooler weather, while still being able to feel accomplished.

Take Breaks

Make sure to leave plenty of time for breaks. If you work 24/7 and don’t leave yourself any time for fun, you will get overwhelmed and burn yourself out before school has even really started. Too much stress is never a good idea, so taking breaks is essential. Even a quick break to paint your nails a new color for fall for five minutes will help you relax and not focus so much on everything that you have to do.

Prioritize

Finally, take the time to think about what is really most important to you. If it comes between going pumpkin picking with your best friends or studying for a test that is still weeks away, don’t be afraid to go have fun.  Of course, school should always come first, but without any fun, your college experience will not be the best it can be.

Kaitlyn Lannan is a sophomore at Northwestern University. She is majoring in economics and communication and plans on attending business school. Her dream job is becoming Chief Marketing Officer at a Fortune 500 company. You can find Kaitlyn on Twitter at @KaitlynLannan.