3 answers
Cooper
Student
Wooster, Ohio
1
Question
Asked
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What is the best way to manage time in college when balancing leadership roles and extra-curricular events?
I am going to be an RA next year, as well as a leader in Young Life. Along with this, I will be taking time consuming classes next year for my major. How do I balance all of this and still get good grades?
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3 answers
Kristin Thomas
Customer Value Management
3
Answers
Indianapolis, Indiana
Updated
Kristin’s Answer
I really like this question! The best tip I got was to treat school like a 9-5 job. I used evenings and weekends for internships, leadership roles, community activities, and hanging out with friends. It wasn't easy to fit everything in, but this approach made me feel super productive and proud. My main goal was to focus on classes and learning, so I finished most of my schoolwork by noon. This gave me more time than I expected for extra activities. It taught me awesome time and energy management skills that worked great in my job later on!
Jeremy Brown
Manager
2
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Jeremy’s Answer
Hey Cooper,
I can let you know what I did, and maybe that'll work for you. For context, I was taking 16-18 credit hours, working full-time, was a member of our Campus Program Board and a DJ for the college radio station.
I figured out what my priorities were and then tried to schedule things from there. Know the things that HAVE to get done daily/weekly. Start there. Then know what CAN be done now but you've got some time. Finally, what would be NICE to get done but if it doesn't, it doesn't.
After you've figured out your priorities, see where you have blocks of time. Do you have an hour between classes? Is that a time for you to do homework? Can you do RA or Young Life duties then? Try to find a productive use of that down time so it's not needed later. Is there a block of time where you're not "on duty" as an RA? Use that to focus on your high priorities. Try to map things out, but be aware that it won't always go according to plan.
I will say that know your priorities and setting a schedule for yourself will definitely help. That said, a very likely scenario is that you are going to sacrifice at least one of either your sleep or free time depending on how heavy your class load is and how involved the duties are for RA and Young Life. If your top priority is good grades, you need to remind yourself of that when you're invited out but you've got a paper due in the morning. There are only 24 hours in the day. You will need to figure out how many hours are required to go to class, do homework, be an RA, and lead Young Life. From there, how many hours are left? That is what you have left for everything else in your life including sleep and fun.
College can be a great experience, but you're going to have to find a balance that allows you to achieve your goals while still keeping you sane and healthy.
Good luck in school, and I hope everything goes well for you.
I can let you know what I did, and maybe that'll work for you. For context, I was taking 16-18 credit hours, working full-time, was a member of our Campus Program Board and a DJ for the college radio station.
I figured out what my priorities were and then tried to schedule things from there. Know the things that HAVE to get done daily/weekly. Start there. Then know what CAN be done now but you've got some time. Finally, what would be NICE to get done but if it doesn't, it doesn't.
After you've figured out your priorities, see where you have blocks of time. Do you have an hour between classes? Is that a time for you to do homework? Can you do RA or Young Life duties then? Try to find a productive use of that down time so it's not needed later. Is there a block of time where you're not "on duty" as an RA? Use that to focus on your high priorities. Try to map things out, but be aware that it won't always go according to plan.
I will say that know your priorities and setting a schedule for yourself will definitely help. That said, a very likely scenario is that you are going to sacrifice at least one of either your sleep or free time depending on how heavy your class load is and how involved the duties are for RA and Young Life. If your top priority is good grades, you need to remind yourself of that when you're invited out but you've got a paper due in the morning. There are only 24 hours in the day. You will need to figure out how many hours are required to go to class, do homework, be an RA, and lead Young Life. From there, how many hours are left? That is what you have left for everything else in your life including sleep and fun.
College can be a great experience, but you're going to have to find a balance that allows you to achieve your goals while still keeping you sane and healthy.
Good luck in school, and I hope everything goes well for you.
Roujean Sabouri
Director of Sales Enablement
16
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Roujean’s Answer
That’s an exciting year ahead—and a full plate! Balancing leadership, extracurriculars, and academics is totally doable with the right systems in place. Here are a few tips that can help:
1. Time Block Your Week Every Sunday
Pick a consistent time each Sunday to plan your week. Block out your non-negotiables first (class, RA duties, Young Life), then set specific time blocks for studying, assignments, and rest. Seeing it all helps you stay realistic about your bandwidth.
2. Stick to 60-Minute Focus Sessions
When it’s time to study, set a timer and do one hour of focused work—no distractions. Even 1–2 of these a day can keep you on track academically without burning out.
3. Learn to Say “Not Right Now”
You’ll get tons of opportunities, but you can’t do everything at once. If something doesn’t fit your current schedule or energy level, say “not right now” instead of stretching yourself too thin. Protect your time like it’s gold—because it is.
As a professional with over 15 years of experience—and a mom to a toddler—I still live by these rules. They’ve helped me stay grounded, focused, and successful even with a packed schedule. I hope you find these strategies helpful!
1. Time Block Your Week Every Sunday
Pick a consistent time each Sunday to plan your week. Block out your non-negotiables first (class, RA duties, Young Life), then set specific time blocks for studying, assignments, and rest. Seeing it all helps you stay realistic about your bandwidth.
2. Stick to 60-Minute Focus Sessions
When it’s time to study, set a timer and do one hour of focused work—no distractions. Even 1–2 of these a day can keep you on track academically without burning out.
3. Learn to Say “Not Right Now”
You’ll get tons of opportunities, but you can’t do everything at once. If something doesn’t fit your current schedule or energy level, say “not right now” instead of stretching yourself too thin. Protect your time like it’s gold—because it is.
As a professional with over 15 years of experience—and a mom to a toddler—I still live by these rules. They’ve helped me stay grounded, focused, and successful even with a packed schedule. I hope you find these strategies helpful!