Blog

As we get ready to begin another a-maize-ing year at Michigan, I am reminded of the importance of maintaining a work-life balance. I’ve found that by prioritizing self care alongside my school and work responsibilities, I’m able to have a more fulfilling experience.

Here are some tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way.

Monitor your credit hours

In my first semester at Michigan, I took 18 credit hours and worked 10 hours per week. Needless to say, it was tough. All of my time spent in class and at work meant that I didn’t get as much time as some of my peers to hang out with other people. Working hard at my classes and learning new skills through my research job were unspeakably rewarding, but I also think that I might have been able to better enjoy my transition into college if I had swapped a few credit hours for stronger engagement with those around me.

If you’ve created a schedule that you love but aren’t sure how it will play out once classes start, consider giving it a trial run. You have plenty of time to really feel out a schedule and figure out what works for you. If you could use some additional help, the friendly advisors at the various advising centers across campus, such as the Newnan Advising Center for LSA students, can guide you in figuring out what would make the most sense for you.

Hit the gym

It’s free for students to use anyway, so why not make good use of all of the exercise equipment and gyms? If you’re interested in joining one of the highly popular group exercise classes, pop into one or two during the first few weeks of the term when they are free and get moving!

Schedule time for yourself

I’ve become the master of making to-do lists, piling them high with things to do, and then meticulously checking things off during the day. And although it’s important to take care of responsibilities, I found that it’s just as important to make having time to myself a regular part of my schedule.

Everyday, I try to put one thing on my to-do list that is just for me. It can be something like time to play the piano or catch up on all of the new content from people I’m subscribed to on YouTube. Whatever it is, I always find that those moments allow me to de-stress and go back to work with a more positive and productive mindset.

Pet Hawkeye (or any other good doggo)

Hawkeye is a good, fluffy boy. Enough said.

A few minutes of petting Hawkeye, Reggie Bee, or any of the other U-M therapy dogs that you might be blessed to run into on campus can truly brighten up your day. So if you’re given the opportunity, pet one of these friendly, fluffy creatures, and walk away with a smile.