As students, it can be incredibly difficult to balance school with our personal lives, especially in a city as busy and energetic as New York. I moved here a month before my classes started, and it was almost overwhelming just how much there was to do! From walking around Central Park to checking out the local bars, I was entranced by the novelty of it all, so unlike my hometown in the midwest. However, that first month flew by much quicker than I expected, and I was quickly faced with the reality of balancing classes and schoolwork with my personal life.
When I first started classes, I made a point to meet new people who shared similar interests, which was relatively easy in such a small and close-knit graduate program. Soon, we started planning activities outside of class like going out for a drink after workshops or going to a movie downtown. It was incredibly rewarding to make these personal connections, but as classes ramped up it became clear to me that I would need to set a balance for myself. I started off the school year working two internships in addition to my classes, and I knew the best thing for my mental health would be to make a plan for myself to stay on track in my work and personal life. I decided to make a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish during my first semester, to get an idea of what was truly important to me and my well-being. Making new friends, keeping up a schedule with my internships (both of which are remote), getting good grades in my classes, and making time to decompress and have some alone time were my four major goals for the semester. Of course, balancing these goals is easier said than done, and I knew it would be an ambitious task.
I made a schedule for myself in order to stay on track with my goals. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are the days I have class, so I reserve those days to focus on my schoolwork and be productive in that sense. My classes are at night, so it’s relatively easy for me to get schoolwork done before class, and I usually have time to work on my internships as well. Thursdays are reserved for the rest of my internship work, and in the evenings I usually have time to myself to watch a movie or go on a walk to decompress after the week. Fridays and Saturdays are when I make plans with my friends, and since many of us have similar schedules being in the same program, it’s really worked out so far! Sometimes we have a lot of energy and want to explore the city on a night out, and other times we stay in and have a movie night after a long and tiring week. Finally, Sundays are when I take time for myself and relax before the start of the week. Sometimes I’ll have some extra schoolwork to do or something to finish up for an internship, but having the whole day to do whatever I need has really been helpful for my mental health. Just having one rest day really helps me recharge and get in the right mindset for classes the next day.
Everyone’s schedule is a little different, and as students it’s especially important for us to be in the right headspace in order to accomplish our goals. Not every week is the same, of course, but just creating a baseline for myself has really helped me stay on track this semester!
By Katrina Kallas
Katrina Kallas is a first-year graduate student at The New School, studying creative writing with a concentration in fiction. Originally from Wisconsin, they enjoy writing about relationships, friendships, and personal values. In their free time, they write fictional stories on a variety of topics and hope to publish a novel after they graduate.
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Tags: college life, Student Life, Studying