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College students wear a lot of hats: student, employee, intern, family member, friend, significant other. With so many things going on all at once, it can be hard to balance it all. Here are five tips to help your student find a school-work-life balance that works for them.Ìý

1: Time management

Time management isn’t just important for college – it’s a lifelong skill. Encouraging your student to develop their time management skills will not only help them now but post-graduation. So what does good time management look like? Here are some reminders you can give your student:

• Plan out a schedule

• Create weekly to-do lists in a planner, or use an app

• Set goals and deadlines that are realistic (and stick to them)

• Start early and avoid procrastinating

• Break larger projects into smaller, more manageable pieces

2: Boundaries

Remind your student that it’s okay to say no to people, especially if they’re already feeling overwhelmed. You can support them by talking through their commitments and limitations. Encourage them to let people know when their schedule is full. When students overcommit to activities, it can often lead to exhaustion, stress and ultimately, burnout.

3: Resources

If your student is struggling or feeling overwhelmed, encourage them to reach out and ask for help. Whether they need help writing a paper, are looking for a tutor or just need someone to talk to, CU offers a wide variety of support services to students (many of which are free).

4: Small wins

Graduation may be your student’s end-goal, and while it’s a big accomplishment, it isn’t the only accomplishment worth noting during their time at CU. Remind your student that it’s important to celebrate small wins, not just the moment they walk across the stage. If your student shares good news with you, help them celebrate and let them know you’re proud of them. Whether they scored well on an exam, landed an internship or simply made it through the week, encourage them to acknowledge their accomplishments, no matter how small.

5: Self-care

It can be hard for students to make time for themselves when they’re juggling a lot of responsibilities, but it’s important to remind them that self-care can actually improve their mood, productivity and performance. Encourage your student to identify self-care activities that work for them. It can be as simple as taking a pause from homework to listen to their favorite song, watching an episode of a binge-worthy show or going on a walk with a friend.