With so much going on in our lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the get-up-and-go living of modern society. There are so many things that can take up time in our schedule, whether it’s academic or extracurricular.

Some people may be involved in sports, some might be a part of a fraternity or sorority, club, or other organization and others might simply have numerous classes with work. Being active and participating in social activities can be a great way to stay involved and relieve stress but there should be a limit.

In previous articles, I’ve mentioned how it’s important to keep our schedules manageable, especially when it comes to credits taken and whether or not to declare a minor. The same can be applied to hobbies or anything else that takes up considerable time. I say this because I’ve had enough busy days throughout both my high school and college career that it really gets to me now.

Imagine being a high school student who, in addition to classes, is also involved in two ensembles for winter drumline and is therefore busy for six hours after school two or three days of the week. As you can probably imagine, getting homework done and studying for tests isn’t too fun during the later hours of the evening. While the payoff at the end might be very rewarding, you still have to take these things into consideration.

How does this relate to a college life? Just take a look around. I work with Campus Dining, and I’ve heard student managers talking about how their duties that require later hours on certain days, especially those who have to work on weekends.

I was recently asked by another employee from last year why I didn’t apply to become a student manager this year. I simply told them that I did not have enough time in my schedule, which was a very good decision, I’d say.

Now, I’m certainly not discouraging having a job or being involved in extracurricular activities. As I said before, being involved in something outside of the classroom can certainly be necessary stress relief as well as the chance to meet with friends you wouldn’t otherwise be able to socialize with. The key is knowing where to draw the line.

Speaking from personal experience, I would say that everyone should have adequate time whenever possible to breathe and refocus between classes and other commitments. Even if it’s not for very long, a little bit of break time every now and then really does help. Obviously, life can get crazy, so our schedule doesn’t always work out in a way that best conveniences us. However, the least we can do for ourselves is not to add any more craziness. But the choice is yours in the end.

Have fun, do well in all your classes and activities, but be smart with your schedule.